Jack Catterall approached the final hurdle keeping him from a title shot and passed his latest test soundly.
The British fighter produced two knockdowns in the ninth round to power his way to a unanimous decision over former two-time super lightweight world champion Regis Prograis at Co-op Live in Manchester, England, and live on DAZN, on Saturday. Judges scored it 117-108, 116-109 and 116-109 in Catterall's favor as he gets one step closer to a world title opportunity at 140 pounds.
"He deserves a world title fight," his promoter Eddie Hearn said. "Jack Catterall, I believe, could well be the No. 1 in the division."
Catterall found himself in trouble as a right hand from Prograis had the off-balance Chorley man touch his glove to the canvas for an official knockdown in the fifth round.
That said, Catterall answered back with a boom, uncorking a looping left hand across the jaw that put Prograis down on the mat in the ninth. Moments later, Prograis tasted the canvas again — this time on a right — for a huge round.
Catterall didn't look back from there, powering his way to the comfortable unanimous decision.
Here are all the updates and highlights from Catterall's win over Prograis.