Jack Catterall moved to within touching distance of a world-title fight by outpointing Regis Prograis over 12 high-quality, absorbing rounds at Manchester’s Co-Op Live Arena.

This was Catterall’s third successive headline appearance and, after his beating Jorge Linares, Josh Taylor and Prograis, it will be all but impossible to deny the 31 year old from Chorley a second attempt at a world title.

Prograis had been out of form since stopping Jose Zepeda in 2022. The 35 year old turned in a flat against Danielito Zorrilla and in June 2023 and looked devoid of ideas and fire against Devin Haney in December. In Manchester, Prograis looked better than he has for some time.

Prograis’ love of adventure and excitement is well known. Maybe it shouldn’t come as any surprise that travelling across the Atlantic for a make-or-break fight with Catterall reignited the spark in the two-time junior-welterweight world champion. 

Given that both fighters are clever, slick operators who like to work at their own tempo, there was precious little chance of fireworks exploding from the opening bell, and the two southpaws spent the first two rounds trying to figure each other out and establishing avenues for their left hands.

Scoring shots were hard to find in the early rounds but Catterall, 30-1 (13 KOs), occasionally found a home for his heavy jab and Prograis, 29-3 (24 KOs), ended the second round with a brief flurry that had Catterall looking momentarily disorganised. 

The third round was another battle of feints and jabs. Catterall was happy to sit back and wait for Prograis to step into distance before trying to land anything significant. Eventually the American took a chance and closed the distance, but Catterall landed a hard left hand that stiffened Prograis’ legs as the round ended. He learned from the mistake and had a better fourth round by sitting back himself and relying on his own jab. 

Prograis finally found a hard left of his own in the fifth, and Catterall briefly held to undermine any hope of him following up. Prograis did succeed with a hard jab moments later, and Catterall briefly touched down and was given a count.

Prograis, increasingly, was boxing with confidence and rhythm. He landed his left hand more regularly and had a bounce in his step. Catterall again used his jab and forced Prograis back at the end of the round, but Prograis was succeeded in making Catterall fight his fight before the halfway point.

Via a clash of heads in the seventh, Caterall was cut in his scalp and Prograis from over his right eye, but it was the American who gave the impression of being in charge. Catterall likes to set the pace and range his fights are fought at, but he suddenly appeared to need a change of gear. 

He effectively seized the momentum in the eighth. Although he took a hard left hand that resulted in both fighters tumbling to the canvas, Catterall began to pick his shots well, and negated a lot of Prograis’ work. 

He found a significant breakthrough in the ninth. A hard left hand put Prograis down, and although he got up, he was still hurt and, as the bell went to end the round, another left put him down again.

Prograis gathered himself well. The 10th felt like a high-stakes shoot-out, and although Catterall appeared in control, Prograis remained dangerous – and he landed a hard left of his own before Catterall instantly fired back. 

Both fighters were looking for the left hand. Prograis when he loosened his shoulders and punched off his head movement; Catterall was a sniper, taking advantage of any small openings. 

Prograis came out for the final round seemingly determined to apply pressure, but he hurt his ankle, and clearly picked up an injury that troubled him for the remainder of the fight. Prograis continued to try but Catterall boxed coolly, refusing to give him the opportunities he needed, and boxing his way to the final bell.

The right fighter won, but though all three judges scored it to Catterall, the cards were too wide. 

Manuel Oliver Palomo saw it 117-108, Bob Williams had it 116-109 and Dave Braslow saw Catterall winning 116-109.

John Evans has contributed to a number of well-known publications and websites for over a decade. You can follow John on X