Josh Taylor on Regis Prograis
According to IBF super world super lightweight champion Josh “The Tartan Tornado” Taylor (15-0, 12 KO’s), he is ready for his October 26 unification bout with WBA world super lightweight champion Regis “Rougarou” Prograis (24-0, 20 KO’s) right now. In fact, Taylor plans for the next week or so to be the “peak week” portion of training camp for the upcoming prizefight in O2 Arena located in Greenwich, London. Their bout will serve as the finals for the World Boxing Super Series super lightweight division tournament. Along with their personal hardware, the Ring magazine belt and Muhammad Ali trophy are also up for grabs.
Taylor, for his account, feels that his upcoming bout is one of the more meaningful fights to taking place this year. Not only are they meeting in the finals, along with all the hardware, Taylor and Prograis are the division’s #1 and #2 ranking fighters. For all these many accolades, the Tartan Tornado feels this is one important fight approaching.
“Yeah I think it’s one of the biggest fights in the sport at the minute. It’s a huge fight you know. It’s a unification fight for the Ring Magazine belt as well, the IBF, WBA and also the Muhammad Ali trophy. So, there is a lot of bling involved in this fight and its two of the best fighters in the division and you know the winner of this fight goes on to a massive fight. So yeah, it’s a real big fight and a real big opportunity for the two of us.”
For a brief period of time, it appeared as if Prograis was going to pull out of the fight. When questioned on the matter, the Rougarou explained that he was displeased for financial reasons. So, as a result of some additional payment tweaks, the fight was back on without a real hiccup. Even though Prograis maintains his beef was economic, Taylor believes it was more geographical. In his own personal estimation, Rougarou had no taste for traveling to Taylor’s backyard.
“I think him and his manager didn’t want to come over here, I think that’s what it was about. They were saying it was about money. It doesn’t matter anyways, it’s here, we’re fighting, it’s all in the past. It’s all smoke and window you know, it doesn’t matter. It’s here, the fight is on, so it doesn’t matter what it was, it’s all done and dust, it’s here, so that’s good!”
With the fight being so close, the Tartan Tornado is firmly locked in on his next foe. Being that this tunnel vision is so solidified in place, Taylor doesn’t have a problem admitting some of Prograis’ strong suits. He understands that if he is going to best Prograis, he must first grant him a fair and true appraisal.
Thankfully, we’re on the short side of time in regards to this fight taking place. Regardless of who wins the fight, the boxing world is more than likely in for one dicey prizefight.
3kingsboxing will continue to provide all the latest coverage on this meaty dust-up.
“He’s good at a lot of things, you know. He’s got good power, he’s got good head movement, you know, he’s got good timing. Yeah, he’s a world champion, he didn’t become world champion for nothing, you know. He’s a good fighter but, I just believe I’m a better fighter. I’m better than him in almost every department, if not every department.” ~Josh Taylor, IBF super world super lightweight champion
By: Bakari Simpson
