This week has revolved around what’s next for Devin Haney – Gervonta Davis, Ryan Garcia and more outlandish names besides – after logging a dominant decision win over defending champion Regis Prograis. Whether it’s been about his 165lb in-ring weight or the fight purse he should expect going forward, it’s easy to forget the individual showing itself. A week on, here is exactly that.
Haney hits high notes on 140lb debut
120-107, 120-107, 120-107: Devin Haney bt. Regis Prograis (c) via UD, wins WBC light-welterweight title to become two-weight world champion
- On how he neutralised Prograis’ strengths, Haney said: “I avoided his left hand, countered him, took it off the chess table. I knew he had habits to lean in, we capitalised. I wanted to hit big shots but my dad told me to stay disciplined, feel so much stronger at 140 – it’s got a new king. Thanks to all those who came out, many more big nights at the Bay Area to come.”
- Regis reflects during post-fight interview: “That motherfucker [Haney] is much better than what I thought, not gonna lie. He’s quicker, I couldn’t get to him… his power surprised me, it’s not like a one-punch shot but it is the shots you don’t see. I’ll be a three-time world champion, take a break over Christmas, talk to Eddie [Hearn], see what’s next.”
Regis Prograis played right into the traps set by a savvy Devin Haney display, as the former undisputed lightweight world champion managed distance well and picked his spots even better to give an unsuspecting defending titlist issues.
The above picture is sobering for multiple reasons, but perhaps chief among them centres around where exactly both will go from here given where their careers have taken them to this stage. Haney almost a full 10 years younger and rising, whereas Prograis probably has less than five fights left before uncomfy questions are asked.
Prograis’ foot speed has never been a weapon, but an inability to cut off the ring and keep the bulk of their exchanges at close-range was quickly apparent as Haney teed off from many angles with sneaky uppercuts and power shots thrown.
That was the highlight of an eventful round two, and Prograis had to lift himself off the canvas midway through the third after Haney exposed his suspect defensive positioning in centre ring to connect with a stinging straight right he didn’t see.
You could sense the chanpion’s team growing agitated by what they witnessed a few feet away, and Rougarou‘s lead trainer Julian Chua told him as much before the fourth – stop following, start closing [the distance] and step to your right.
Former welterweight world champion Shawn Porter on DAZN’s commentary highlighted Prograis’ flat-footed nature wasn’t exactly helping him as far as lateral movement was concerned against a world-class boxer far younger, fresher and faster.
This was all happening in real-time, Prograis’ face becoming increasingly marked up as the 16,000-strong Chase Center crowd were audibly cheering for their hometown hero to continue his best work and cap the night with a decisive stoppage too.
Devin’s father Bill in the corner didn’t need to say much at this point, just reiterating positive affirmations and reminding his charge to stay sharp.
After all, Prograis still carried power – whether he was firmly down on the scorecards or not – and the challenger couldn’t allow complacency to creep in.
Haney’s methodical attacks, whether jabs or more rights, persisted as time wore on, to the point where referee Jack Reese and ringside doctor appeared concerned in the champion’s corner before round eight.
Bill told DAZN’s Chris Mannix they wanted him to ‘get this clown outta there,’ but Prograis wasn’t aggressive enough to warrant those knockout opportunities.
Single shots did cumulative damage and the commentary team questioned whether Regis’ resistance was waning to the point where his corner should pull the plug.
Haney rocked him once more deep into the ninth with a series of right hands, didn’t get overexcited seeing the champion on wobbly legs and then Rougarou‘s corner asked him straight: “Do you want to continue? We’re not going to let you take this punishment and not throw anything back…“
Prograis tried a bit more in the tenth and got into some clinch exchanges too, but was more reckless with his entries and almost got caught clean with an uppercut as Haney smothered that work before imposing more sharp ringcraft in-front of him.
Not fast enough to dodge or counter quickly, Prograis was staring down the barrel of a humbling shutout defeat in his career-biggest showdown.
The only thing more demoralising than losing the way he was, is clearly being unable to turn the tide as the crowd bayed for a late knockout – or at least some drama to spice up an uncompetitive spectacle.
It didn’t come, Haney manoevuring around the ring to make the champion miss before they soon embraced at centre ring and Bill nonchalantly acknowledging another of his son’s defeated opponents after the intense build-up preceding it.
Okay, so what’s next for both?
As mentioned in the introductory paragraph, Haney has naturally attracted attention from all those rivals who he didn’t box at 135lbs – Gervonta Davis, Ryan Garcia et al – while the disclosed fight night weights reinforce the belief he’s still got a ways to go before settling on his final weight division over the next decade or so.
Sandor Martin, who many felt did enough to beat Teofimo Lopez last year over ten rounds, is expected to be made Haney’s WBC mandatory challenger. It would be a decent, if unspectacular start to 2024 with bigger fights on the horizon lurking.
Lopez has already signed contracts to fight former Vasiliy Lomachenko opponent Jamaine Ortiz on February 8 per ESPN, with a reported unification bout against heavy-hitting IBF champion Subriel Matias shelved after the Puerto Rican sustained a minor hand injury during his R6 KO win vs. Shohjahon Ergashev last month.
While in no rush to return, WBA titlist Rolando Romero will be mandated to face the Ohara Davies vs. Ismael Barroso winner next and suddenly you see a path where Prograis’ three-time champion proclamation looks hopeful rather than realistic.
Not ranked in the top-15 of any sanctioning body now, it’s a familar case of the who needs him club and while he has been vocal about wanting big fights, it’s likely he’ll have to lower his expectations as far as opposition name value is concerned going forward to rebuild – and quickly – before Rougarou becomes forgotten completely.
Picture source: Getty Images, quotes via DAZN PPV broadcast
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