Prograis: Crazy because softest puncher I ever fought put me down

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 Haneyโ€™s 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, didnโ€™t 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 โ€“ย  still canโ€™t understand how Haney put him down.

โ€œIt was really the movement,โ€ Prograis told Boxing News when asked how Haney troubled him. โ€œLike, with the knockdown, I was like, โ€˜What?โ€™ It was crazy because the softest puncher I ever fought put me down. I donโ€™t know how. I donโ€™t know to explain it. Like, Iโ€™ve been hit by big punchers and it donโ€™t do nothing to me.

โ€œThatโ€™s why it shows you itโ€™s all in the mind. People look at my record, and Iโ€™ve 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€

Chorleyโ€™s Catterall (29-1, 13 KOs) has a knockout percentage comparable to that of Haney (31-0, 15 KOs, 1 NC). Jamie Moore, Catterallโ€™s trainer, respects Prograisโ€™ power, yet he assured anyone who doubts Catterallโ€™s strength that he, too, punches hard.

โ€œAnother 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. โ€œPeople are always sleeping on Jackโ€™s power. You know, heโ€™s never gonna be a Golovkin. Heโ€™s not that type of fighter, but when he hits you, believe me, you know about it.

โ€œAnd we have a hell of a lot of respect for Regis. The reason why weโ€™re here tonight is because weโ€™ve got respect for him. We know how good he is, we know what heโ€™s achieved, we know the power that he possesses and the danger he brings. But thatโ€™s 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 serviceโ€™s undercard coverage is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. GMT in the UK and 2 p.m. ET in the United States.

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