by Keith Idec
Regis Prograis was more surprised than anyone when Devin Haney landed a right hand that caused a knockdown during the third round of their fight.
The former WBA and WBC 140-pound champion was knocked off balance. He spun around and used his right glove to keep from completely falling to the canvas, but Haneyโs well-placed punch caused an official knockdown approximately 47 seconds into the third round last December 9 at Chase Center in San Francisco.
Prograis (29-2, 24 KOs), the supposed puncher in their junior welterweight title fight, didnโt score a knockdown. In fact, he lost every round according to judges Rey Danesco, Mike Ross and Fernando Villarreal, each of whom scored Haney a 120-107 winner of their DAZN Pay-Per-View main event.
Prograis got up almost immediately from that flash knockdown and informed referee Jack Reiss that he was fine to continue. Nearly 11 months later, Prograis โ who will fight Jack Catterall on Saturday night at Co-op Live Arena in Manchester, England โย still canโt understand how Haney put him down.
โIt was really the movement,โ Prograis told Boxing News when asked how Haney troubled him. โLike, with the knockdown, I was like, โWhat?โ It was crazy because the softest puncher I ever fought put me down. I donโt know how. I donโt know to explain it. Like, Iโve been hit by big punchers and it donโt do nothing to me.
โThatโs why it shows you itโs all in the mind. People look at my record, and Iโve been hit by way bigger punchers and nothing happened to me. But Devin is probably the softest puncher I ever fought, and he put me down. So, for me, it was just like the mind thing.โ
Chorleyโs Catterall (29-1, 13 KOs) has a knockout percentage comparable to that of Haney (31-0, 15 KOs, 1 NC). Jamie Moore, Catterallโs trainer, respects Prograisโ power, yet he assured anyone who doubts Catterallโs strength that he, too, punches hard.
โAnother reason why we went with Regis was because we know the styles will blend for the great fight,โ Moore said during their press conference Thursday in Manchester. โPeople are always sleeping on Jackโs power. You know, heโs never gonna be a Golovkin. Heโs not that type of fighter, but when he hits you, believe me, you know about it.
โAnd we have a hell of a lot of respect for Regis. The reason why weโre here tonight is because weโve got respect for him. We know how good he is, we know what heโs achieved, we know the power that he possesses and the danger he brings. But thatโs gonna bring the best out in Jack Catterall.โ
DAZN will stream the 12-round, non-title bout between Catterall, 31, and Prograis, 35, as a main event worldwide. The streaming serviceโs undercard coverage is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. GMT in the UK and 2 p.m. ET in the United States.