A busy Jack Catterall can only be a good thing

PERHAPS the only thing worse than the decision delivered following Jack Catterall’s 2022 super-lightweight title fight against Josh Taylor in Glasgow was the fact that Catterall, rather than receive an immediate and deserved rematch, would instead have to choice but to return to the wilderness.

By wilderness, of course, I mean obscurity and even that is all relative. After all, Catterall still managed to record two good wins against Darragh Foley and Jorge Linares between “losing” to Josh Taylor and exacting his revenge two and a half years later. But given what could have been had Catterall got the nod against Taylor first time around – taking from the Scot his world title in the process – it is only natural to still consider Catterall’s career to be one of the slow-burn variety to this point.

Which is why news of his next fight, an August 24 date against Regis Prograis, has been so well-received and celebrated in certain quarters. Coming as it does just three months after outpointing Taylor in their return, this upcoming fight against Prograis suggests Catterall, 29-1 (13), has not only moved on from his great rival but is now looking to at last build on the momentum of having recently bested him.

“That chapter with Josh now is closed. It’s a new chapter,” he said. “Before the first fight I found myself in a great position, number one in the WBO, but I was sitting on the shelf for too long. I think we understand that the division is wide open right now. There’s no immediate shot at the world title but I didn’t want to be waiting until the back end of the year or early next year to get back in the ring, with the hopes of maybe landing a world title fight.

“I want the biggest fights. I think Regis said it; bar the world titles, this is the biggest fight in the division. I’ve had momentum; you (Eddie Hearn) have kept me active, which I’m grateful for. I’m in a great position and I don’t want to be sat on the side waiting for fights to happen that might not happen. I need to strike while I’ve got momentum.”

Jack Catterall celebrates beating Josh Taylor in Leeds

Staying busy is one thing, but progressing in the right direction is another thing entirely. Here, against Prograis, Catterall finds himself up against the kind of opponent with whom he should be crossing paths at this stage in his 12-year professional career.

“Regis is a two-time world champion looking to become three,” he said. “I know the winner of this fight is in a great position to go on and challenge for a world title. This fight gets me up; I’m excited. It’s not far from where I live (in Manchester), this Co-op Live arena. I’ve got everything to gain in this fight.

“I’ve been watching Regis for four or five years. I was at the fight against Taylor in 2019. I’ve watched him box in Dubai, and I was in San Francisco in December, so I’ve been seeing him and I know what he’s about. He’s a tough fighter and he’s earned his right – he’s a two-time world champion. I know exactly what stands in front of me and I’m working hard.”

If for Catterall it’s all about building momentum and striking while the iron is hot, for Prograis it’s more about rediscovering some momentum and finding out, in the process, whether he has anything left at this kind of level. Now 35, Prograis was last seen losing a wide decision against Devin Haney, the then-WBC super-lightweight champion, and that night looked a shadow of his former self, albeit in the company of a world-class operator.

“We were actually supposed to fight a few years ago but it just never happened, and so now we’re here,” Prograis, 29-2 (24), said of Catterall. “I think this is the best time right now. For sure, it’s must-win. I have a goal now. Every time I get the belt I kind of just don’t care about it. Now I have a goal again. I want to be a three-time world champion and this is the man that I have to get past. Catterall is one of the biggest names in the division right now. The 140-pound division is stacked right now and this is the biggest fight that they can make without a belt being on the line. I’m ready to do it again in front of the crazy UK fans.”

Regis Prograis hits the pads