by Keith Idec
Regis Prograis grew to become consumed with the improper issues towards the top of the over-the-top promotion of his struggle with Devin Haney.
The previous WBA/WBC 140-pound champion started to deal with what he would say to Haney and his father/supervisor/coach, Invoice Haney, after they talked trash throughout press occasions earlier than their 12-round bout final December 9 at Chase Middle in San Francisco. Prograis was additionally on edge as a result of he felt Devin Haney would attempt to shove him at their weigh-in, the best way Haney pushed Vasiliy Lomachenko the day earlier than they fought in Might 2023.
If that had occurred, Prograis suspects their struggle would’ve been postponed primarily based on his bodily response to that sort of disrespect. The New Orleans native took offense, too, to Invoice Haney suggesting he was “scared” of the previous absolutely unified light-weight champion, which enraged Prograis and made him wish to damage Haney badly throughout their DAZN Pay-Per-View major occasion.
Prograis admits he was a psychological mess by the point he entered the ring that night time. The Katy, Texas resident credit Devin Haney for preventing in addition to he did, but additionally Invoice Haney for getting him off his sport.
“I feel it was simply psychological warfare,” Prograis instructed Boxing Information upfront of his struggle with British southpaw Jack Catterall on Saturday night time in Manchester, England. “I really feel like they knew get in my head. That’s what they did, and it labored to perfection.”
Haney’s execution of his gameplan, coupled with Prograis’ poor mindset, led to a totally imperfect efficiency from a strong southpaw who was satisfied he would knock Haney out. Haney (31-0, 15 KOs, 1 NC) even dropped Prograis through the third spherical of a struggle the Oakland native gained by shutout, 120-107 apiece, on the playing cards of judges Rey Danesco, Mike Ross and Fernando Villarreal.
“I felt like I needed to harm him so dangerous,” Prograis recalled. “After we have been doing the weigh-in and I used to be like strolling him off stage and stuff like that, I simply kinda misplaced it. I needed to harm everyone on that aspect as a lot as I can. They was gettin’ on my nerves and stuff like that. Each struggle that was like that, it was psychological warfare. Josh Taylor kinda bought in my head a bit of bit. Yeah, we went at it, however you recognize, he bought in my head a bit of bit. And [Danielito] Zorrilla bought in my head a bit of bit. And Devin and Invoice and them, they positively bought in my head.”
It took him quite a bit longer than one may count on from an skilled former world champion, however the 35-year-old Prograis has lastly realized to keep away from getting distracted by something an opponent says or does earlier than a struggle.
“Now I do know it’s only a sport,” Prograis mentioned. “Let ‘em discuss, let ‘em say no matter they wish to. Now my head is mentally free from that. You’ll be able to say no matter you need about me. You’ll be able to say no matter you need about my household – something. Now it’s like I’ve enjoyable in boxing. I’m wanting nice in sparring and it’s simply enjoyable for me. It’s not about going on the market and making an attempt to kill your opponent. I’m getting again to that – simply going on the market and having my enjoyable and, in fact, simply not letting anyone get in my head no extra.”
DAZN will stream the 12-round bout between Chorley’s Catterall (29-1, 13 KOs) and Prograis (29-2, 24 KOs) as its major occasion from Co-op Dwell Enviornment. Undercard protection is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. GMT (2 p.m. ET).
