Jack Catterall hopes that Regis Prograis remains retired after watching his former opponent lose to Conor Benn.
Prograis announced his retirement on Saturday at the age of 37 after losing via unanimous decision on the undercard of Tyson Fury-Arslanbek Makhmudov and, having twice won versions of the junior-welterweight world title, did so at a time when his legacy remains intact.
Benn, 29, was ultimately too big, too young and too fresh for Prograis, and to that end Catterall hopes to one day fight his fellow Englishman as well.
Catterall outpointed Prograis in 2024 and watched him consider retirement when he spoke about having “had my time in the sun” before then fighting twice more.
When on May 23 Catterall fights Uzbekistan’s Shakhram Giyasov, he, too, will know that at 32 he is potentially running out of time, but unlike Prograis he believes that he had more to achieve as a prizefighter, and it is partly for that reason that he wants to see his former opponent bow out on the relative high of a high-profile fight.
“I’m guessing he got a nice pay cheque,” Catterall told BoxingScene. “He boxed in a stadium against one of the most recognisable fighters, definitely in Britain but in world boxing. Benn’s got a big name. He stayed on his feet for 10 rounds; give a good account of himself considering his age. It’s a good fight to go out on.
“I don’t see him beating any other champions. If it’s not a goal to become champion again, what are you really fighting for? He’s done well out of boxing so it’d be nice for him to just go and do his thing.
“Prograis, after the first round, I thought the rumours of an injury were definitely true. That, mixed in with his age and how long of a career he’s had – he was pretty shot. But he done well; he dug deep; he stayed in there, so you’ve got to give him credit for that. But it was quite evident he was past his best and dealing with a few things – and it were probably nice for him not to kill himself to get to 140.
“We boxed in ’24 and I knew what I was up against. I’d watched the World Boxing Super Series; I didn’t get in; [Terry] Flanagan got in; Flanagan got the fight with Prograis. We’d known of him for some years; respect what he’s done; had some great fights; he’s a puncher. It were great to share the ring with him. He was respectful.”
When in May he fights the also-32-year-old Giyasov, Catterall will be attempting to win the lightly regarded WBA “regular” welterweight title. He ultimately hopes that victory will secure a date with Roland “Rolly” Romero, the full titlist, but also makes little secret of his desire to fight Benn.
“Benn always strike me as very fit; very athletic; puts punches together,” he explained. “But he was too easy to hit. Imagining me getting in the ring with Benn, ‘He’d be brilliant for me’. He comes out 100mph; throwing all those punches; gets hit with everything; he wasn’t having a massive effect on Prograis. But credit to them both – they did what they needed to do. I’d love that Benn fight.
“I thought, whoever gets in with Benn next, if he gets one of them big fights – a [Ryan] Garcia; a Rolly – I’d expect him to get beat if you judge him off that performance. But if he got in with a good British-level fighter he’d probably get beat. I don’t think he’s all that – and that’s not being disrespectful to Benn. I get on with Benn; I speak to Benn; I’d love to fight him. He’s a big draw. But as levels go I don’t think he’s in that top-tier level; he can’t be put in them conversations, but he is.”
Asked how he felt about Benn’s status as mandatory challenger to the WBC welterweight title held by Ryan Garcia, regardless of four years passing since he last fought at 147lbs, Catterall then responded: “I understand the sport; I understand how it works; the politics. What’s gonna be, will be – I can control what I can control. Be ready to fight; push the fights. But that’s as far as it goes.”
