‘Can I Still Do This?’: 35-Year-Old Regis Prograis Opens Up About Growing Older

Regis Prograis (29-2, 24 KOs) is looking to prove that he is STILL in his prime.

‘Rougarou’ is currently gearing up to face British boxer Jack Catterall (29-1, 13 KOs) in a 12-round junior welterweight bout at Co-op Live Arena in Manchester, England on October 26. The fight was initially scheduled to take place on August 24 but had to be postponed after Catterall suffered an injury. Meanwhile, Prograis turned 35 in January; his age and the future of his career have been a constant bone of contention among boxing critics and fans. The former two-time WBC super lightweight champion put their doubts to rest by revealing that his best years are not yet behind him.

“Yes, you need to always ask yourself, ‘Can I still do this?’ I know I can. (His advancing age) is not a factor at all. I can still do all the work. I’m still fast. My reflexes are still strong. I just want to go out there and show people I still have it. I feel better than when I was 27,” he said in an interview with ProBox TV.

He further mentioned that his body is still durable and capable of taking punches. However, Prograis, being the fighter that he is, didn’t want either critics or fans to believe his words just yet. He rather his performance against Catterall speak for itself. “We can talk all day. I just want to show people. Saturday night for me is all about showing I can erase any doubts in anyone’s mind, telling them, ‘Don’t ever doubt me again,’” he said.

“I Do Have Doubts”

The fight will mark Prograis’ return to the ring after his showdown against Devin Haney in December 2023. While Catterall recently secured a victory against Josh Taylor (who previously beat Prograis), he still believes that Catterall is not yet a fighter of his caliber. “I do have doubts about Catterall’s resume because he’s not on my level. We have two common opponents: Josh Taylor and Tyrone McKenna, who I stopped in six rounds, and he went the distance, with Tyrone pushing him,” he said during the same interview.

“Taylor’s his best win. If you take Josh Taylor off my resume, I’m still a two-time champion. If you take him off his, where does Catterall go?” Prograis even vowed to show people that his skills are levels above Catterall.

Joshua Ben Joseph

Joshua Ben Joseph is a Boxing writer renowned for his unparalleled coverage of live events and insightful interviews with prominent athletes in the world of combat sports. With a career spanning over several years, he has authored more than 800 articles. As an experienced editorial cartoonist and investigative journalist, Joshua has a keen eye for detail and a passion for delivering quality content. Aside from his writing, Joshua is an avid powerlifter and solo traveler, embodying the same spirit of determination and exploration that he brings to his work. With a deep love for the sport of boxing that dates back to childhood, he is committed to delivering the highest quality content and helping to build a more transparent and credible industry.

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