Regis Prograis and Jack Catterall went toe-to-toe for a shot at world honors in yesterday’s absorbing battle at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester, England.
The two skilful southpaws engaged in a high-octane chess match, with Catterall overcoming a fifth-round knockdown to secure a wide unanimous decision victory over the two-time world champion.
Before hearing the final bell, the Brit floored his man twice in the ninth round, compelling Prograis to continue after rolling his ankle.
In the end, however, the American was unable to disrupt his opponent’s pulsating rhythm, and ultimately failed to produce a late surge in the championship rounds.
Devin Haney claims that he ‘ruined’ Regis Prograis in their WBC world title fight
Following his victory, Catterall’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, teased a potential showdown with WBO world super lightweight champion Teofimo Lopez.
The Matchroom Boxing boss insists that his fighter deserves to be the mandatory challenger for Lopez’s belt, but admits that a clash with IBF titleist Liam Paro is perhaps a more realistic proposition.
Still, following his back-to-back wins over Prograis and former undisputed king Josh Taylor, it appears that the future nonetheless looks bright for Catterall.
Prograis, meanwhile, will be forced to lick his wounds after suffering his third professional loss in what was marketed as a must-win fight.
And yet, even now, it would seem that the 35-year-old is unable to catch a window of respite away from his former rival, Devin Haney.
Haney, of course, put on a punishing 12-round display against Prograis towards the end of last year, flooring his countryman enroute to claiming his WBC super lightweight trinket.
If anything, though, his reaction to Catterall’s scintillating performance was even more assertive, as the 25-year-old simply said: “I ruined Regis.”
Devin Haney warns Regis Prograis of bare-knuckle dangers despite Conor McGregor interest
Immediately after his defeat to Catterall, Prograis hinted at a possible bare-knuckle boxing appearance, expressing a keen interest in the rapidly growing yet controversial sport.
And then, moments later, UFC star Conor McGregor, the co-owner of BKFC, took to social media in welcoming the idea of a seasoned professional boxer making the transition.
But in response, Haney swiftly shut down the idea, claiming that Prograis lacks the durability for bare-knuckle fighting.
On X, he said: “[Prograis] don’t have a chin.. bare knuckle fights aren’t for him. He needs to become an amateur boxing coach.. USA boxing.”