Jack Catterall’s August twenty fourth battle in opposition to former mild welterweight champion Regis Prograis has been postponed till October. Catterall (29-1, 13 KOs) reportedly suffered a non-serious damage and might’t battle.
Catterall’s Fashion: A Flip-Off for Followers
Catterall and Prograis had been purported to battle on August twenty fourth on the Co-Op Reside in Manchester. Nevertheless, some followers on social media suspected that tickets weren’t promoting, so the battle was postponed because of the bleak scenario.
It could be higher for Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn to cancel the Catterall-Prograis battle as a result of it’s a match that hasn’t resonated with followers, who’ve proven little interest in watching that albatross.
Mike Coppinger hears the Catterall conflict in opposition to Prograis can be moved to October. We’ll see if that occurs. The battle is a foul concept within the first place as a result of this match is poison. Catterall could be higher matched in opposition to IBF 140-lb champion Liam Paro or WBO champ Teofimo Lopez moderately than Prograis.
Followers haven’t been a lot within the Catterall-Prograis battle for apparent causes. Catterall has a safety-first model of preventing, much like Shakur Stevenson’s, and his fights are form of arduous on the eyes. Catterall’s fights are boring to observe numerous the time.
Followers don’t take pleasure in watching runners and clinchers, particularly when paying to observe the fights reside. Catterall wants a whole revamp of his preventing model from prime to backside, however it is likely to be undoable with out breaking him.
Prograis’ Final Likelihood
Prograis, 35, is coming off a one-sided twelve-round unanimous determination defeat in opposition to Devin Haney final December in San Francisco. This battle is considered as a last-chance scenario for the previous WBA/WBO 140-lb champion Prograis (29-2, 24 KOs) to salvage his profession.
It’s a tricky one for Prograis as a result of he’s sluggish and never prone to do effectively in opposition to the Shakur-esque Catterall, who strikes loads, jabs, and clinches at any time when his opponent will get in punching vary.
After Catterall’s final battle in opposition to Josh Taylor in Could, he made Hearn’s job tougher as a result of he wasn’t entertaining to observe. When you’re a promoter for one of many prime fighters at 140, you don’t need to match them in opposition to Catterall. He strikes an excessive amount of, and all that holding he does is terrible. It’s crowd-repellant.
Potential Touchdown Spot
With Catterall-Prograis postponed till October, an excellent touchdown spot could be on the undercard of the Dmitry Bivol vs. Artur Beterbiev occasion in Riyadh. The battle could be a great one on the undercard, and ticket gross sales wouldn’t be a priority. I might bury it pretty deep on that card so it’s not a drag on the occasion’s promotion.
Hearn has different fighters at 140 that he can match Catterall in opposition to if he decides to scrap the Prograis battle. Considered one of these fighters could be fascinating for followers as a plan B for Catterall:
- Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis
- Subriel Matias-
- Liam Paro
- Andy Cruz
- Richardson Hitchins
I recommend that Hearn pair Catterall with Boots Ennis or Andy Cruz to offer him an actual check. If he fails, he’ll have an excuse attributable to these two’s expertise, but when he’s even aggressive, it’s a win-win for him.
