Jack Catterall vs Regis Prograis Predictions: ‘El Gato’ opens Co-op Live Arena

World-ranked British star Jack Catterall takes on former world champion Regis Prograis this Saturday, October 26. The bout will headline the first-ever boxing event at the new Co-Op Live Arena in Manchester. DAZN will televise the super lightweight showdown.

Catterall finally exorcised his own personal demon last time out. His controversial 2022 points loss to then-undisputed champion Josh Taylor has hung over the career of ‘El Gato’. After boxing just twice in the two years since, with a number of scheduled rematches with Taylor going by the wayside due to injuries, Catterall finally got a chance to set things right.

The four belts Taylor brought to the first fight were long gone. Sanctioning body codswallop had removed three of the four. Teofimo Lopez beat ‘The Tartan Tornado’ for the final piece, outscoring Taylor in June 2023. 

After the first fight, many considered Catterall the uncrowned super lightweight champion. It is a designation he would have to make do with as he beat Taylor in their non-title rematch in May. But despite the lack of belts on his mantle, Catterall did at least get the monkey off his back. Finally his career could emerge from the shadow of Taylor.

Wins over Darragh Foley and Jorge Linares have been Jack’s only non-Taylor bouts since a 2020 win over Abderrazak Houya. Foley was an exercise in blowing the cobwebs off, troubling Catterall very little over 10 rounds, getting decked twice before losing on points. A points win over faded great Jorge Linares looks shiny on Jack’s record, but the fact it was the legend’s fourth consecutive loss, coupled with his post-fight retirement, tells you all you need to know. 

Prograis is another fighter closer to the end of his career than the peak of it. But he was a world champion as recently as 10 months ago. ‘Rougarou’ lost his WBC championship to Devin Haney via unanimous decision last December. 

It was as comprehensive a loss as one can suffer without being knocked out. Haney had Prograis on the canvas twice and utterly thrashed his man during the moments where he was standing upright, too. It was, simply put, a beasting.

Prograis has been out of the ring ever since. That wasn’t by design. The American was supposed to get it on with Catterall back in August, before an injury to the Brit temporarily kiboshed that plan. One is left to ponder what effect a near-year on the shelf has had on the 35-year-old Prograis.

The New Orleans southpaw is some fighter at his best. A two-time world champion, Prograis holds high-class wins over Terry Flanagan, Ivan Redkach, Kiryl Rellikh, Jose Zepeda, Julius Indongo and Joel Diaz Jr. 

Haney aside, only one man has ever beaten him. Of course, given the narrative around his opponent, it was Taylor. The Scotsman edged out Prograis by majority decision back in 2019 in a WBA and IBF title unification fight. The American expressed an interest in a rematch, but Taylor instead pursued the undisputed title, eventually beating WBC/WBO boss Jose Ramirez. 

Despite his excellent record and history of high-level achievements, one gets the idea that Prograis might be coming to the end. Accepting a fight in a dangerous opponent’s backyard with no title on the line is brave. It is an indication of a man who might not have many other places to go. Lose here and Prograis’ career could be on the line.

Catterall isn’t quite in the same boat. But a defeat to the veteran would certainly put a cap on his ambitions at world level. In another world, ‘El Gato’ would already be the recognised number-one in this division. But in this one, he is yet to lift the world title that he has been so cruelly denied. Lose at the Co-Op on Saturday and the belts may never come for Catterall.

Jack Catterall vs Regis Prograis Fight Odds

Catterall is 1/5 to score the victory on Saturday. Prograis is your 18/5 underdog while you can back the draw at 16/1.

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Jack Catterall vs Regis Prograis Prediction

Catterall has found the winning touch at world level. There was very little debate the second time around against Taylor. The Chorley man found a way to beat his Scottish nemesis soundly. 

I think Catterall will get this job done with the minimum of fuss. If Prograis wasn’t stopped when facing down that maelstrom from Haney, I don’t see him being knocked out here. My pick is Catterall on points at 4/7.

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