Sam Jones has told BoxingScene that his primary focus is securing Jack Catterall a fight with WBO super lightweight champion Teofimo Lopez, rather than a clash with two-time 140lbs title holder Regis Prograis.
Prograis is currently on holiday in Japan but, this weekend, he found time to take to instagram and call for a fight with the 30-year-old from Chorley.
“I’m out here in Tokyo right now. It’s early morning and I just got the call for me and Jack Catterall to get it on,” Prograis said. “I’m with that. I’ve been with it and I’ve been wanting that fight for a long time. Let’s do it. Matchroom, Eddie Hearn, Saudi Arabia, Turki [Alalshikh] . Let’s get it in. I’m with it.”
It is no surprise that Prograis, 29-2 (24 KOs), has targeted Catterall. The 35-year-old Louisianan is looking for a way back into title contention after his one-sided loss to Devin Haney last December. Prograis remains one of the super lightweight division’s most exciting and charismatic fighters but struggled with Haney’s fleet-footed movement and drifted to a lopsided unanimous decision defeat.
Catterall is one of the division’s hottest properties after avenging his controversial loss to former undisputed 140lbs champion, Josh Taylor, with an exciting decision victory last month. His manager, Jones, told BoxingScene that while Prograis’ name has been mentioned, their aim is to position Catterall for a fight with WBO champion Lopez.
“It’s been briefly spoken about,” he said. “It’s a big fight if it happens but the numbers would need to make sense for Jack. It’s no secret my aim is to get Jack a world title shot. We want Teofimo Lopez – which I think is realistic towards the end of the year – but in the meantime we could fight Arnold Barboza to secure a mandatory shot. Jack’s got lots of options on the table so it’s an exciting time for him. He deserves to be in this position.”
