Promoter Eddie Hearn believes the question for tonight’s fight is whether Jack Catterall (29-1, 13 KOs) can withstand the might of former two-time light welterweight champion Regis Prograis (29-2, 24 KO) in their fight at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester.

(Credit: Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing)

Is Prograis too powerful for Catterall?

If Catterall can’t handle Prograis’ heavy shots, he won’t last long in their fight. This won’t make Hearn happy as he already anticipates Catterall fighting for the IBF welterweight title against either Liam Paro or Richardson Hitchins.

We’ve never seen Catterall face an A-level fighter before in his career, and he could fall apart tonight when he goes in with Prograis. Catterall beat Josh Taylor in his last fight, but he was completely beaten up and he was no longer the person he had been in the past.

“The big question in this fight is whether Jack Catterall can stand up to the power of Régis Prograis? said Eddie Hearn to Boxing in the match room about tonight’s fight between Catterall and Prograis in Manchester. “How much does Régis Prograis have left?

“The question marks are: Who is the 140-pound king? The loser of this fight can still compete in big fights, but the winner will go on and fight for the world title,” Hearn said. “Huge pressure on both Saturday nights. Big crowd at Co-op Live. This is the first time boxing has taken place in the arena.

“Both guys need to win if they want to secure a chance at the world championship in 2025. You’re going to see a war in Manchester

“My fighting style, the higher level of boxer I face. Sometimes I’ve failed when I’ve boxed a lesser opponent, and my levels have gone down,” said Jack Catterall. “I think you’ll see with Regis that the better opponent, the better I will be. If I win on Saturday, I go for Liam Paro.

“I keep saying this is one of the biggest fights you can have at 140 outside of the belts on the line,” Prograis said. “I feel like it’s the perfect time and the perfect fight for me and for him.

Prograis is right that his fight against Catterall is one of the biggest in the light welterweight division because there aren’t many big names. Ryan Garcia and Devin Haney are inactive and will both likely move up to 147. Teofimo Lopez is expected to do the same soon. Liam Paro is not doing well in the United States and is not a star.