Regis Prograis is returning to familiar surroundings, training full-time in Houston with longtime coach Bobby Benton as he prepares for his Oct. 26 bout against Jack Catterall in Manchester, England.
The 12-round junior welterweight contest represents a pivotal moment in Prograis’ career, as many question whether the 35-year-old former titleholder Prograis can still perform at an elite level.
Benton, however, isn’t concerned about the doubters.
“We’re just starting camp,” Benton told BoxingScene. “Nothing heavy right now—just working on basics, floor work, pads. We’ll start sparring [soon] and get into everything.”
For Benton, it’s business as usual. “It’s back to work, that’s all it is. Nothing’s changing,” Benton said. “A lot of people think Regis is done, but he’s not. Catterall has everything to lose. Honestly, I didn’t think they would take the fight.”
Regis Prograis (29-2, 24 KOs) is coming off a tough loss to Devin Haney last December, a bout in which he was knocked down twice. That fight followed a rare training camp in Southern California for Prograis. Prior to the Haney defeat, Prograis delivered a lackluster performance against Danielito Zorrilla in his New Orleans homecoming and debut with Matchroom Boxing. However, he had been riding a five-fight win streak since his majority decision loss to Josh Taylor in 2019. In November 2022, Prograis knocked out Jose Zepeda to become a two-time junior welterweight titleholder. Despite the setback against Haney, Prograis has made it clear that his goal remains to become a three-time champion.
Benton, who has guided Prograis through some of his biggest victories, believes the 31-year-old Catterall (29-1, 13 KOs) might have miscalculated by not pursuing a title after his win over Taylor in their rematch, a milestone for Catterall.
“It’ll be just like the old Regis,” Benton promised.
After some difficult nights in the ring, Prograis is eager to show he remains a top contender in the division. Benton is confident: “They’ll see a different Regis on Oct. 26. He’ll be back on top.”