Jack Catterall, contemporary off a win over Josh Taylor of their Might rematch, will tackle Regis Prograis on Aug. 24 within the first boxing occasion to happen at Co-op Dwell in Manchester, England.
The all-southpaw contest is scheduled for 12 rounds, and although a junior welterweight belt is but to be connected to the matchup, the winner will likely be primed to contend for one.
At 35, Prograis, an exquisite fighter at his finest, will not be fairly consuming in Final Likelihood Saloon, however he’s definitely on the point of doing so. Since tightly dropping to Taylor in a 2019 barnburner, his type has been patchy and his exercise sporadic. He was comprehensively outpointed by Devin Haney in his most up-to-date contest in December, surrendering the WBC 140-pound title he had received through unconvincing cut up resolution in opposition to Danieleto Zorrilla six months earlier than.
Catterall, of Chorley, England, doesn’t precisely trump Prograis by way of being busy. However out of the 2, he’s definitely the fighter deemed nearer to his peak. The victory over Taylor put an finish to a rivalry that started in 2022 when the Scotland’s Taylor received a extremely contentious verdict. Within the prolonged interim, Caterall posted wins over Darragh Foley and the growing older Jorge Linares.
“Regis Prograis is a improbable fighter and he’s coming off the again of an enormous PPV world title combat in opposition to Devin Haney,” Catterall said within the official press launch. “He’s a former two-time world champion, he’s been over right here to the U.Ok. earlier than, had a life and demise with Josh Taylor, and I’m trying ahead to sharing the ring with such an awesome fighter.”
Catterall displayed way more confidence in talking on DAZN on Saturday.
“Regis, two-time champion, I need that smoke,” Catterall mentioned. “I believe he’s slower on his ft, Regis is a tricky fighter, [but] he’s 35 now. I believe he’s going to make me look good. He’s going to return, carry it. It’s a tricky combat however one I anticipate to win.”
In the meantime, Prograis insists that the slippery, pot-shotting contender has been on his want listing for an age.
“This can be a combat I’ve at all times wished,” he said. “We had been speculated to combat a number of years in the past, but it surely by no means materialized. Now could be the right time. I view Jack as top-of-the-line on this planet at 140 kilos. It’s an awesome combat as a result of Jack is keen to turn into a world champion and I’m seeking to turn into a three-time world champion. On high of that, I’m excited to be coming to the U.Ok.”
The present will likely be promoted by Matchroom Boxing and Eddie Hearn, who mentioned: “This can be a sensible combat, and I’m so completely happy that we’re seeing the 2 finest 140-pound fighters face one another somewhat than simply sitting round and ready for title pictures.”
Prograis (29-2, 24 KOs) is ranked fourth by the WBA and IBF, seventh by the WBO and eleventh by the WBC. But Catterall (29-1, 13 KOs) sits above him in every of these charts (third by the WBC, WBA and IBF, and second by the WBO). The impartial TBRB ranks Catterall because the No. 3 contender, six locations above Prograis.
