Terence Crawford v Regis Prograis, anyone?
WBO welterweight champion Terence “Bud” Crawford requires a viable opponent. Looking at the WBO ranking system, the top challengers are busy. Where that’s not the case, there is little confidence a fight can be made.
Furthermore, the mega-fight everyone is foaming at the mouth to see is with unified champion Errol Spence Jr. That fight has been placed on hold since the Texas brawler’s horrific car accident. Besides, upon the unified champion’s return, fulfilling mandatory obligations could cause an even longer delay.
The 32-year-old Nebraskan champion is in dire need of a bona fide challenger. In that spirit, he took to social media to bait anyone with a title into a possible fight.
Things heated up when former WBA “super” junior welterweight champion Regis “Rougarou” Prograis chimed in.
The Louisiana southpaw is coming off an extremely competitive loss in the World Boxing Super Series tournament finals against British unified champion Josh Taylor.
Crawford let it be known that the former champion didn’t fit the criteria with a little jab.
However, Prograis wasn’t going to let that stand unanswered.
In defense of the WBO champion, the fight in reference was a mandatory obligation against Egidijus Kavaliauskas. However, before boxing fans look to dismiss the thought, just think for one second; there is quality and value that the former champion brings.
It can be argued that Prograis’ profile is better than any of the recent opponents and no one has just walked over the hard-punching southpaw. Understandably, he doesn’t have a belt but again, the WBO champion is in a position where he can’t afford to be choosy.
Going into 2020, team Crawford and the Top Rank brass will have to make some hard decisions because time is quickly becoming the enemy.
By: Garrisson Bland
