Regis Prograis says he’d prefer to resume his 12-year skilled profession, presumably at 147, after dropping to defensive artist Jack Catterall by a twelve-round unanimous determination final Saturday night time on the Co-op Stay Enviornment in Manchester.
Prograis (29-3, 24 KOs) states that he’s been at 140 his complete profession and desires to maneuver as much as welterweight to attempt that. He had needed to turn out to be a three-time mild welterweight champion, however after dropping to Catterall (30-1, 13 KOs), he feels that transferring as much as 147 is perhaps the most suitable choice, wanting retiring.
In hindsight, it was a foul transfer on Prograis’ half to combat a defensive fighter like Catterall, who’s a light-weight model of Shakur Stevenson along with his retreating model of combating. Prograis had already misplaced to finesse fighter Devin Haney final December, who used a whole lot of motion and holding to neutralize his offense.
Selecting Catterall was silly. If that’s all Prograis’ promoter Eddie Hearn provided him, he ought to have declined the supply and sat inactive as a result of combating Catterall damage his profession. Prograis nonetheless has extra to offer, however he must be extra strategic about the kind of fights that he takes. When Hearn provided Prograis a combat in opposition to Catterall, he ought to have stated no to the match. That’s not the kind of model that Prograis has ever accomplished nicely in opposition to.
Catterall is an effective fighter, however he’s a primary runner with a Shakur model and could be very beatable. He would have misplaced to somebody who might chase him across the ring and lure him into combating. He’ll probably lose to IBF mild welterweight champion Liam Paro in 2025 if he’s the one he faces for that belt. Paro is defending in opposition to Richardson Hitchins subsequent on December seventh in Puerto Rico.
“Perhaps give it a attempt at 147. I’ve been at 140 my complete profession, and I get older. I’ve all the time needed to placed on weight, and I stayed at 140 for a very long time,” stated Regis Prograis to Boxing Information, discussing the potential of transferring as much as welterweight after his loss to Jack Catterall final Saturday night time.
“So, possibly it’s time to go as much as 147. We’ll see the way it occurs. I’ve been pushing my physique for a very long time, however now, I believe it could be time to go up. I needed to be a three-time champion, however now, possibly it’s time to go up and put some measurement on my physique. That’s what I’ve been doing for a very long time. I’ve been making 140 since I turned professional [in 2012].
“So, possibly me and Josh [Taylor] can do one thing at 147, however I’m not anxious about combating proper now. I’m going to return to the drafting board and see what I do. I believe this is perhaps my final combat at 140. I actually needed to be a three-time champion, however typically, it won’t be for you. Proper now, it won’t be for me. So, both go as much as 147 or do one thing else,” stated Prograis.
Taylor could be a superb possibility if Prograis packing containers him as a result of he did nicely when he stayed on the surface within the second half of their combat in 2019. The place Prograis struggled was when he tried to combat Taylor on the within within the first half of the competition and bought chewed up.
“However as everybody is aware of, I alter my thoughts each three seconds. So, I’d say one thing tomorrow, ‘I’m going again to 140.’ It relies upon. We’ll see,” stated Prograis.
If Prograis does select to proceed, he ought to goal WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios as a result of he can beat him. Barrios is a slugger, and he doesn’t run across the ring like Catterall and Haney. He’ll come to combat Prograis, which might be a wonderful matchup.
Prograis must work on his cardio as a result of he misplaced steam on the midpoint in opposition to Catterall and gassed out in his losses to Haney and Josh Taylor.