Regis Prograis Issues a Warning to Teofimo Lopez
Two-time junior welterweight champion Regis “Rougarou” Prograis (28-1, 24KO) continues to send warnings toward former unified lightweight champion “The Takeover” Teofimo Lopez Jr (18-1, 13KO). A recent post by Top Rank promotions, asking who The Takeover should fight next, prompted a stern message from the current WBC champion.
Rougarou has not been shy about wanting to face the former unified lightweight champion. In addition, he first anticipated a showdown between them was possible when Lopez announced moving up into the division.
AN OPPORTUNITY HAS PRESENTED ITSELF
On November 26, the New Orleans native put on a career performance, winning the vacant WBC title in an eleven-round destruction over Jose Zepeda. Prograis hosted a Q&A with the fans and spoke about sending the former unified champion to the hospital, if they were to meet. The Brooklyn native was not happy with Prograis’ hospital comment despite understanding the true nature behind the meaning.
The WBC champion was far from being done. Next, he dropped a list of top fighters in the division Lopez couldn’t beat while accusing him of ducking Arnold Barboza.
Here is where things get interesting. Lopez is coming off a lackluster performance against Sandor Martin in a WBC title eliminator on December 10. Rougarou is free to make a voluntary defense since mandatory challenger and former WBC champion Jose Ramirez declined the fight over the purse split.
This opens the door for a perfect opportunity to make the fight between the two rivals. Some pundits believe this is the best fight to make in the division.
The junior welterweight division is becoming one of the most talked about divisions in boxing. Hopefully, Prograis versus Lopez gets made at some point in 2023.
By: Bo Bland
