“I still love being a fighter,” Regis Prograis declares, at 35, as he gears up for another challenging bout in Manchester on Saturday night. The American super-lightweight, who has dominated the division for eight years, will face Jack Catterall, a fighter with only one loss, albeit controversially, in 30 matches. Prograis has faced two defeats in 31 fights and will be tested once more following his comprehensive loss to Devin Haney, which cost him his WBC world title. However, Prograis remains optimistic, finding renewed motivation in his passion for the sport. He emphasizes that his love for boxing “is why I continue. I yearn to be a world champion again, for the third time. That’s something I deeply desire. I’ve done it twice, but three times is legendary, like Muhammad Ali.” The victor between Catterall and Prograis will likely secure another shot at a world title, yet this time, the high stakes are not accompanied by the usual trash-talking. “Jack is incredibly friendly,” Prograis notes in his distinctive New Orleans accent. “But we still have to fight.” At their first face-off, it seemed like they were exchanging insults, but Catterall was merely inquiring about Prograis’s flight and his enjoyment of Manchester. Prograis was elated, ready to showcase his skills on the big stage.
In December, against Haney in San Francisco, the atmosphere was tense and chaotic. Prograis admits he was distracted by the constant verbal sparring with Bill Haney, Devin’s father. “Absolutely, they got in my head.” Prograis acknowledges the mental aspect of boxing, emphasizing that while physical training is crucial, mentality makes the difference. He contrasts his current calm in Manchester with the chaos before the Haney fight, where he was surrounded by friends, people filming, and distractions. “Manchester is much better. I’m staying in my hotel room, reading and watching TV. I prefer fighting away from home now.”
Prograis reflects on his past experiences, noting that he used to sit in his room all day before fights when he was rising through the ranks. He learned from his previous London bout against Josh Taylor, where he was constantly on the move, doing media and street activities. This time, he’s focused, working out in the morning and evening, otherwise staying in his hotel room.
Prograis is dismissive of Catterall’s credentials, recalling Catterall’s controversial loss to Taylor. “I feel he won the first fight, but the second was closer. They owed him the decision. But the Josh Taylor he fought was different from the one I faced in 2019. I still think I beat Taylor, and if we rematch, I’d likely stop him.” Prograis believes Catterall lacks the resilience of Taylor and that if he lands a hit, he’ll hurt Catterall. “Besides Taylor, there’s nothing else on his résumé. Take Taylor off my résumé, and I’m still a two-time world champion. It’s about levels, and I’m levels above.”
Prograis, an avid reader of boxing literature, understands the risks of the ring. He promises that “if I perform as I did in sparring, everything will be perfect. My coach, Bobby Benton, tells me to ‘Go have fun.’ This mindset reminds me of when I started boxing at 16, 17, just for fun. As you grow older and move up in levels, it stops being as fun. You start feeling pressure.” Prograis looks calm and relaxed, as if he’s truly found what he loves about boxing after years of struggle and lessons. “You can’t call this a game, but to me, it’s fun. This is what I do, and this is what I like to do. I have to go out there, enjoy myself, have fun, and do what I did in the gym. If I do all that, I should have no problems on Saturday night.”
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