Catterall eyeing world title after stunning Co-op glory

CHORLEY’S Jack Catterall wants a world title shot in 2025 after a thrilling unanimous points victory against American Regis Prograis on Saturday night.

The 31-year-old’s well-deserved triumph in the first boxing event at Manchester’s Co-op Live arena saw him pick up the WBO international super-lightweight belt after seeing off the former two-time world champion from New Orleans 117-108, 116-109, 116-109 - to the delight of a partisan home crowd full behind the Lancastrian.

And after a year that has seen Catterall register three impressive triumphs, he is eyeing bigger and better things next year.

He told DAZN post-fight: “I am really pleased - it was a big event for me.

“Now I want a world title fight and I would love it to be back here at the Co-op Live in Manchester - another big occasion.”

Catterall and Prograis clearly had mutual respect for each other and it was evident early on in the top-of-the-bill clash with the first four rounds as cagey as anything.

The first saw barely a punch thrown by either in front of an expectant crowd who then saw a slightly better second round with Catterall tentatively feeling his way into the bout.

He was on the front foot in the third but as the fourth round came to a close, both men traded punches.

It sprung to life in round five when Catterall was given standing count by referee John Latham. It appeared he was caught by a deflected Prograis punch off his shoulder but also slipped at the same time.

After that, Catterall - who admitted getting some stern words from his corner ahead of round six - took charge and was more often than not on the front foot.

Admitting afterwards, the knockdown meant he had to up his game, he did just that.

And in round nine, after Prograis had himself slipped early on, Catterall’s right-left combination caught the American and sent him to the canvas. Surviving the count, he was shaky and was down again before the round was over.

Chants of ‘Chorley, Chorley’ echoed around the magnificent acoustics of Manchester’s newest large venue and superstar ‘El Gato’ remained on the front foot.

And as veteran Prograis tired in the final rounds, the Lancastrian saw out the bout without much fuss - the American tiring rapidly and even falling over in the 12th after a huge swing and a miss.

It was nos surprise when all three judges handed the decision to Catterall and in his post-victory assessment, he added: “I knew I had to be on my game against Regis and early on it was very cagey.

“But I could feel his power but I could not take too many gambles because he could exploit that.

“We had to be patient but after the count in the fifth, where I felt I slipped, the corner gave me a talking to. We knew I had to up it after losing that round 10-8.

“I did that but still had to avoid being reckless.

“Then I got the two knockdowns and took it from there really.

“It has been a mad 11 months but now it is some family time and hopefully that world-title shot next year.”

It’s a shot beaten Prograis also says Catterall deserved in a magnanimous post-fight reaction from the 35-year-old who says he may call time on his ring career after defeat.

He told DAZN: “Jack was the better man tonight - simple as that.

“He deserves a world title fight.

“I have fought a lot of people in my career and he is definitely one of the best I’ve faced.

“I can only say to Eddie [Hearn]: “Let Jack go and be a champion now” - I have had my time in the sun.

“I gave it a go but I hurt my knee and ankle and was fading near the end for sure but that’s not to take anything away from Jack who did a good job.”