In his second championship reign, Regis Prograis makes the second defence of the WBC light-welterweight title overnight vs. Devin Haney – who relinquished undisputed status at lightweight to face a fellow titlist and one who declares he sees weakness standing across from him. While both are at different stages of their respective careers, neither have yet earned the respect such esteemed accomplishments deserve. Will that change with victory here? That depends.
Prograis: Haney win puts me in pound-for-pound spots
- Prograis on the size of this fight, toppling Zepeda last year and where beating Haney would put him: “I shoulda had this type of fight a long time ago, like a breakout fight. I haven’t gotten the respect I really deserve. You know, became a champion and it was cool – a real good fight that should’ve been big… it wasn’t, but this is to the general public, not just boxing fans. Being [in the] pound-for-pound [list] is a driving force for me right now.”
- He confirmed avenging his Josh Taylor defeat is something he wants in future, but acknowledges there are bigger future fights available that make more business sense – like a unification with WBO light-welterweight champion Teofimo Lopez and contender Ryan Garcia
New Orleans’ Regis Prograis, 34, is a two-time world champion and one who has headlined in his hometown during an accomplished career with several multi-million dollar purses to date. He’s still got a chip on his shoulder, but why?
The only pro defeat on an otherwise unblemished record is via majority decision against now-former undisputed king Josh Taylor, back in October 2019, with the Scotsman’s stock falling fast since a fateful homecoming night in February 2022.
Nearly two full years after controversially retaining his world titles via split decision that night against Jack Catterall, Taylor is still more highly regarded among critics and fans than Rougarou. Not for much longer, if Regis can help it.
Although it wouldn’t be an upset in his eyes, toppling Haney in this weekend’s DAZN PPV main event at Chase Center will not just enhance his own legacy but shift the boxing public’s perception as an otherwise overlooked world champion boxer.
Haney is widely considered the better technician, though Prograis’ punch power and grit are two attributes he prides himself on. When he promises to knock the 24-year-old out, and do very bad things en route to securing a stoppage win, it’s not just a vehicle for promotional talk – the defending champion wholeheartedly believes it.
Why wouldn’t he? Many have written him off previously, picking holes in his unorthodox style and Haney joined the talk himself during the build-up to their title fight, questioning whether he has a plan B or scope to adapt against the world’s elite when things aren’t going the way he might’ve planned mid-fight.
The unflattering split decision win over Danielito Zorrilla on June 17 wouldn’t have done much to increase Prograis’ stock before his biggest night yet, but you’re only as good as your last fight. People will quickly forget that sluggish showing, should he get his hand raised and in emphatic fashion during an optional title defence here.
“Boxing fans are tired of seeing fighters [box] where they know who’s going to win, right now we need to have [things] where you don’t know. All I want now at this stage of my career is the big pay-per-view fights, that’s it.”
Haney willing to fight the world’s best – whoever, whenever
- Haney on his mindset and how things have changed: “I’m showing that I’m a true champion – everybody I call out and they actually wanna fight, I fight them and it’s been like that for a while now. You know, I’ve been calling out top guys since I was 19, 20 years old. Now I’m in the position to where I could call the shots, now these big fights are happening. I’m a throwback fighter, willing to fight the world’s best – whoever, whenever.”
- As far as trajectories to the top of their respective divisions… Haney turned pro in Mexico as a 17-year-old and has been flexible with his promotional agreements to good effect — Prograis didn’t start boxing until he was 17 and has bounced around until recently, not by choice
Whether you like his boxing style, find it boring, or believe he should have one Vasiliy Lomachenko-shaped defeat on his resume, you can’t deny Devin Haney is doing what most of the contemporaries and highly-rated divisional rivals are not.
Taking on all comers for the right price, having forgone leverage and home comforts to box twice in four months on Australian soil and comprehensively outfox George Kambosos Jr to secure, then retain, undisputed world championships at 135lbs.
Having begun his career as a small welterweight, Prograis’ best career work has come at light-welter and he campaigned in the 140lb division from August 2015 onwards, scoring eight stoppages in ten fights before the narrow defeat by Taylor.
Theoretically, he should be favoured to prevail given this is a weight he has been comfortably making and maximising his potential in for almost a decade.
Haney had to cut to make 135lbs and looked increasingly drained at the limit in recent bouts, so moving up divisions was an inevitability. Having just turned 25, he’s presumably not done growing into his body just yet.
Prograis the knockout artist, Haney the emerging star – neither has the acclaim they deserve, based on risks they’ve openly accepted both recently and in the past to reach the heights they will share for a few more hours yet.
Rather than get the credit for a gritty win over a much improved Lomachenko, Haney was criticised for failing to give his challenger an immediate rematch.
If he was physically compromised against Teofimo Lopez three years earlier, this represented a refreshing version of Loma near the very peak of his powers.
Haney does the basics brilliantly and while he lacks the one-punch power of most rivals – Gervonta Davis instantly springs to mind – none of them can compare just yet as far as risk vs. reward, even if Lopez has recently emerged as a close second.
After Thursday’s presser, father Bill acknowledged the size of the task ahead – they knew this was another calculated risk. It’s his son’s time to shine once again.
“You’re not gonna get on the Mount Rushmore of boxing by not doing things like that, Devin has been consistent about that’s what his place is. That’s where he looks to be, a legend in the sport and remembered forever.”
Picture source: Getty Images, quotes hyperlinked via BoxingScene
Mo and Sports 