Jack Catterall beats Regis Prograis on points to move closer to title showdown

Jack Catterall made a major advancement in his quest to become a world champion by defeating Regis Prograis in an unusual and chaotic 12-round fight in the super-lightweight category. He secured the win with one-sided and favorable scorecards of 116-109 on two occasions and 117-110 against the former two-time world champion.

A clash that started as a chess match erupted into a brawl, showcasing three knockdowns, the first delivered by Prograis. Both fighters traded wild punches, often missing their targets, and found themselves slipping and falling to the ground. Near the end of the fight, Prograis appeared to injure his ankle and leg. Despite the circumstances, the American remained gracious and reflective as it seems his professional career has come to a close in Manchester.

The two boxers entered the ring in their typical southpaw positions, cautiously testing each other during the first four rounds. Prograis pushed the action but struggled to connect with many meaningful shots, while Catterall had limited effectiveness with his jab in the second round. Catterall had some small bursts of activity and landed a sharp left punch on Prograis late in the third round. Prograis showed signs of wear around his right eye, and Catterall connected with another left in the fourth. However, their strategic match-up, with both fighters focused on counterpunching, risked becoming monotonous.

Later in the fifth round, Catterall went down after a straight right hit his shoulder instead of his head. It was a brief knockdown since he barely hit the ground and didn’t seem to be injured. However, the referee gave him an eight-count, which energized Prograis. In the sixth round, he came out with renewed determination and landed a few solid punches.

In the seventh round, an accidental head collision caused a cut on Catterall’s head, resulting in blood running down the side of his face. Both fighters stumbled into the ropes, and in the next round, they ended up on the canvas. However, the fight was about to take a surprising turn. In the final minute of round nine, Catterall delivered a powerful and perfectly executed left punch, quickly followed by another blow with the same hand. Prograis went down hard. He hit the floor again just before the round ended but signaled that he was ready to keep going as the referee began to count.

The tenth round was filled with excitement, making it a sharp contrast to the slow-paced first half of the fight. A genuine battle had started, but Catterall wasn’t as ruthless as many legendary fighters tend to be when they realize their opponent is hurting and fighting back with urgency. It was clear that Catterall was gaining the upper hand, and Prograis's challenges grew even greater as he struggled with pain in his leg.

Before the final round began, they acknowledged each other with a respectful touch of their gloves. However, Prograis, desperate for a knockout to save his career, fell to the canvas again after a wild swing missed its target. In the last minute, appearing weakened in his corner, he gestured for Catterall to come forward. The match concluded with a quick exchange of punches in the center of the ring, and soon after, the scorecards revealed the stark difference in their boxing trajectories.

At 35 years old, Prograis, an American boxer who has been competing at the highest level in his weight class for several years, came to Manchester filled with resolve and focus. Following two unsatisfactory outings in the ring, the latest of which resulted in him losing his WBC world title after not scoring a single round against Devin Haney, Prograis understood he was in a tough spot. To regain his position as a contender for the world title, he knew he needed to secure a victory over Catterall, someone who has experienced his own share of struggles.

In 2022, during his first and only world title fight, Catterall was unfairly denied the win when the judges surprisingly gave the decision to Josh Taylor. Having knocked Taylor down and outperformed him throughout the match, Catterall was heartbroken by the outcome. Earlier this year, he faced Taylor again in a challenging rematch and emerged victorious, but he recognized that he had to erase the previous controversy and doubt with a decisive win.

Prograis has enjoyed a remarkable career, but this evening turned out to be a harsh and disappointing experience for him. As he makes his way home, one can only hope that he considers stepping away from the sport before it demands too much from him. He's a smart boxer and a genuinely good person, and he deserves more than to be viewed as just another challenger for the eager and determined up-and-coming fighters.

In contrast, Catterall's win was well-deserved, bringing him a step closer to the world title he's been aspiring to for so long.