Regis Prograis Ready to Take All Comers In Pursuit Of Undisputed at 140
After weeks of speculation, we now know that the reigning WBC junior welterweight champion Regis “Rougarou” Prograis (28-1, 24 KOs) has signed with Matchroom Promotions. Matchroom chairman Eddie Hearn was alongside Prograis for the announcement and is very enthusiastic about having Prograis in the fold. In terms of what Rougarou wants to accomplish with his new promoter, the pride of New Orleans made his intentions clear as a bell. He’s looking to take over the junior welterweight division.
“Ryan Garcia, maybe Gervonta Davis . . . I want to clean up the division. I do want to be undisputed, by the time it’s all said and done . . . Josh Taylor rematch – definitely want that . . . Something might happen with (IBF champion Subiel) Matias, I definitely want that fight. I want to get some big fights, then become undisputed.”
READY TO MAKE BIG MOVES
A potential fight with Davis (29-0, 27 KOs) would have to wait until 2024 as Tank must serve a ninety-day sentence after he was convicted in a November 2020 hit-and-run incident. Garcia (23-1, 19 KOs) is in rebuild mode following a seventh-round stoppage loss to Davis on April 22. A rematch with Taylor doesn’t seem likely.
Taylor (19-0, 13 KOs) will defend the WBO junior welterweight strap against Teofimo Lopez on June 10. Win or lose, many insiders believe Taylor will soon move up to 147.
A more viable option for Prograis right now may be a fight with Matias (19-1, 19 KOs), the reigning IBF junior welterweight title. Matias captured the title in February 2023 with a fifth-round stoppage over Jeremias Ponce. Immediately after winning the title, Matias called for a fight with Prograis, and they’ve had their share of verbal threats at each other in interviews and on social media.
Matias is currently fighting for PBC. However, Hearn has a working relationship with that company. Provided that Prograis takes care of business against Paro in July, one could see Hearn reaching out to PBC about a potential Prograis-Matias junior welterweight unification showdown for either late this year or early 2024.
The signing of Prograis is a coup for Matchroom. They want to put him in the ring against the best fighters around 140. At age 34, Prograis finally has the big platform he has longed for throughout his career. Optimism is very high for all parties involved.
Be the first to comment