This Saturday, Chorley’s Jack Catterall faces Louisiana’s Regis Prograis in a high-profile fight for a big future in the super lightweight division.
The venue is the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester, and the undercard features British and Commonwealth featherweight champ Reece Belotti defending his titles against the mercurial Michael Gomez Jnr.
Our Boxing tipster, Matt Gipon, has examined the above fights and found three value picks. Let’s get his thoughts.
Boxing Betting Tips
Jack Catterall v Regis Prograis – Catterall points or decision
Jack Catterall v Regis Prograis – Total knockdowns – Over 1.5
Jack Catterall v Regis Prograis – Catterall to win the fight in round 9 – 12
Reece Bellotti v Michael Gomez Jnr – Bellotti to win the fight in round 7 – 9
Jack Catterall v Regis Prograis – Catterall points or decision
TV: DAZN, Saturday 10:30pm
This is an excellent fight in a stacked division. Prograis is a former champ, while Catterall should’ve won all the belts when he was robbed on the cards against Josh Taylor. However, both men currently find themselves down the pecking order and need a win to put themselves in contention for title contests with Devin Haney, Teofimo Lopez, or Liam Paro.
The controversial first fight with Taylor in 2022 left Catterall in limbo – his reputation was sky-high, but he was officially defeated and with no belts. By the time the rematch happened in May this year, Taylor had lost the belts, so even though ‘El Gato’ put in another masterful performance, he wasn’t rewarded with a trinket once again.
Prograis also faced Taylor back in 2019. At the time, the Scot was at the peak of his powers and secured a close mixed-decision victory over the American. Prograis’ form has dipped since that night in London – in his last two bouts, he’s scraped past the mediocre Danielito Zorilla, and Haney completely outclassed him in December.
‘Rougarou’, 35, is in the twilight of his career, and his footwork seems to have slowed to a plod. The veteran American has been competing as a professional in this weight division since 2012, and it looks like making 140 pounds takes more out of him with every fight.
Crafty Catterall, 31, is a very clever boxer, and he has used his ring IQ to navigate past opponents he probably could have stopped if he wasn’t so tactical. The Englishman hasn’t stopped a foe for five years, and the sensible pick is for Catterall to take another win by the judges’ verdict.
Total knockdowns – Over 1.5
Even though the fight will likely go the distance, it won’t be bad. Catterall hurt and wobbled the teak-tough Taylor on multiple occasions over their 24 rounds together, while Prograis was dropped by Haney, who isn’t known for his punch power.
From the other perspective, Prograis is a hazardous operator. The southpaw has a KO ratio of 82%, and he’s far from being washed up. I think the chances of a few knockdowns are high, and I like the price for over 1.5 knockdowns in Manchester.
Catterall to win the fight in round 9 – 12
If you’re looking for longer odds, you could back Prograis, who I think Paddy underestimates.
However, I like the big price for a late stoppage win for Catterall. It would be a massive statement win for the quiet man, but he’s approaching his prime now, and it could be the perfect time to face an ageing and weight-drained opponent.
Reece Bellotti v Michael Gomez Jnr – Bellotti to win the fight in round 7 – 9
TV: Sky Sports, Saturday, 9pm
Bellotti first became Commonwealth champion in 2017, when he fought like an out-and-out destroyer with an almost perfect record of KO wins. But between 2018 and 2021, the Watford man went through a difficult patch, losing five times in seven contests.
Bellotti has regained his Commonwealth strap and picked up the British belt, too, with a more considered approach, but Gomez Jnr.’s aggressive, and sometimes dirty, tactics could instigate a war on Saturday night.
Gomez is the son of a Manchester boxing icon, and he’s lived up to his father’s wild reputation. He’s accumulated an impressive record of 21 wins and just one defeat, but he hasn’t faced anyone on Bellotti’s level.
I think the champ will try to box cleverly, but eventually, he’ll be dragged into a brawl, and this time, it will work to his advantage. Bellotti has the edge in skills and power, and I expect him to stop Gomez in the second half of the contest.
Boxing Tips
Jack Catterall v Regis Prograis – Catterall points or decision
Jack Catterall v Regis Prograis – Total knockdowns – Over 1.5
Jack Catterall v Regis Prograis – Catterall to win the fight in round 9 – 12
Reece Bellotti v Michael Gomez Jnr – Bellotti to win the fight in round 7 – 9
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
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