Regis Prograis Dominates Jose Zepeda to Become a Two-time Champion!
There was an air of anticipation when Regis Prograis (28-1, 24 KOs) faced Jose Zepeda (35-3, 27 KOs) for the vacant WBC junior welterweight title at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California.
RELATED: Regis Prograis v Jose Zepeda: Fight Preview & Prediction
A one-time WBA champ, Prograis was on a mission to become a two-time world champion. The 33-year-old fancies himself as the best at 140. He felt that winning the WBC belt would move him one step closer to the top of the junior welterweight mountain.
He battled a Zepeda who has also been a mainstay in the division. A three-time world title challenger, the 33-year-old is hungry to finally jump that final hurdle and have a world belt strapped around his waist. However, it was to no avail.
TAKING CONTROL EARLY
After an opening round where Zepeda landed some solid left hand, Prograis went to work. The ex-champ began to employ the jab and box starting in round two. Rougarou used excellent upper-body movement to slip and avoid the punches of Zepeda, then counter with hard left-hands to the head.
IN HIS BAG
Prograis continued to use his speed and accuracy to tattoo Zepeda in the middle rounds. One would think Zepeda would have adjusted by fighting with urgency and applying pressure. But he is a heavy-legged fighter and has difficulty cutting off the ring. With his faster hands and feet, Prograis created angles to pile up points and land with hurtful shots to the head and ribcage.
Early in the eleventh, a Prograis left-hand had Zepeda on wobbly legs. Sensing the end could be near, Prograis pounced. An all-out assault of power punches put Zepeda down. The referee stepped in and waved a halt to the action to end the battering.
While Prograis didn’t name a specific opponent during the post-fight interview, it’s clear that he is ready and willing to fight anyone in the division. He wanted to make a statement. The division has been put on notice.
By: Michael Wilson Jr.
