CO-OP LIVE, MANCHESTER — In the 31st fight of his professional career, more than two-and-a-half years on from being robbed of undisputed status in his only world title fight, Jack Catterall stumbled with the top of the mountain in sight.
During the fifth round of his showdown with former two-time super lightweight champion Regis Prograis at Manchester’s Co-Op Live Arena — Catterall’s third UK arean headline show in the past 12 months – the home fighter was clipped by a right hand as he was throwing himself.
He over-balanced over his front leg and touched down. Referee John Latham correctly called a knockdown against Catterall for the first time in his career.
After four rounds of passive fencing from the two southpaw counter-punchers, it would have been easy for the 31-year-old to sense the fight and the prospect of a title shot slipping away. Lesser fighters would revert to panic mode.
“He was coming forward with punches and maybe I caught a glancing blow but I didn’t feel buzzed or hurt,” a still clear-headed Catterall said after being awarded a deserved unanimous decision victory.
“I can’t say I got dropped but I went over, touched the canvas and got a count.
“It was about listening to Jamie’s instructions, staying calm and collected and trying not to make any mistakes in reacting in the wrong way.”
WATCH: Jack Catterall vs. Regis Prograis, live on DAZN
Jamie Moore, the former European super welterweight champion and Catterall’s trainer, was by his own admission a very different type of fighter to his star pupil.
“It’s a big thing when you’ve never been down. I was like a yo-yo when I was fighting, I was used to it.,” he chuckled.
“When you’re in Jack’s position and you control fights and dominate so much, when you’re put into that position it’s a test of your character. It was interesting to me to see his response to that.”
The response spoke volumes over Catterall’s elite credentials. From The Sporting News’ ringside vantage point, Prograis took rounds six and seven but Catterall was confident he would get to the older man down the stretch.
He did so emphatically in round nine, decking the New Orleans native heavily with beautifully judged left hand. The second knockdown of that round left Prograis with compromised movement from a damaged ankle and the championship rounds became an ordeal for the esteemed veteran.
Catterall always has preferred to let his fists do the talking, even as his two-fight series with Josh Taylor became increasingly embittered. As such, it’s handy that the affable Lancastrian now has two motormouths in his corner.
Manager Sam Jones is a boxing character of the speak first, think second variety, as was amusingly demonstrated by Prograis’ voice note receipt keeping during fight week.
Then there’s Matchroom head honcho Eddie Hearn, for whom Catterall has become the UK jewel in a stable with an increasingly global focus.
“I think his IQ is really, really good. I think his jab is very under-rated, I think his power is very under-rated. He can fight on the inside, he’s tough, he’s got a good chin, he’s got everything,” Hearn said.
Could it be @jack_catt93 🆚 @TeofimoLopez in the UK? 👀#CatterallPrograis pic.twitter.com/8XCTm00AnH
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) October 27, 2024
“If I put him in with Teofimo Lopez, if I put him in with Devin Haney, if I put him in with Ryan Garcia… all of those guys, I believe he’s in 50/50 fights. With all the top names in the division.
“Another fighter that I think is massively under-rated is Liam Paro. Paro against Catterall is a very good fight. I think it would be very unwise to rule him out in any fight against any 140-pounder.”
Taking on names of the magnitude of Lopez, Garcia or Haney would be mouthwatering for Catterall and his fans, whose delirious and beer-drenched reaction to the double knockdown in round nine will live long in the memory. You get plenty at Riyadh Season but you don’t get that.
Hearn sounded torn when he spoke of building and building Catterall in this boxing heartland in a similar manner to his job with former lightweight world champion Anthony Crolla .
He also acknowledged that bringing a man with Teofimo’s weighty purse demands to Manchester might remain the stuff of dreams. Paro defends his IBF 140lbs title against another Matchroom fighter, Richardson Hitchens, on December 7 in Puerto Rico.
Right now, the winner of that one looks like the path of least resistance for Catterall, despite him claiming the WBO international belt against Prograis — a sanctioning body that still recognises Lopez as its champion. Both Teofimo and his most recent challenger Steve Claggett secured title shots after winning the same lightly regarded strap.
“We’ve got to be a little bit careful because we want to maintain nights like that, images like that where people see the atmosphere, see the crowd and that’s British boxing,” Hearn said.
“We can’t just look to take every headline act to Riyadh Season.
“But, at the same time, the aim is to make sure the opportunities are there for Jack Catterall and he’s financially rewarded for it. I would like to keep Jack in the UK if we can.
“It is unlikely for Teofimo to come to the UK in my opinion. He’s still blaming me for his George Kambosos defeat when we promoted the show at Madison Square Garden.
“If it [Lopez vs. Catterall] went 12 rounds I’d actually leave the arena before the scores were read out. I don’t know what he’s going to do. He’s got that legal dispute with Top Rank. Is he going to move up to 147? If he does, it could open up a vacant shot.
“Obviously, with having those two fighters fighting for the IBF on December 7, that’s a clearer shot.”
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