By: Sean Cross
He was 24-0 going into the ring that night in London. All but five of the battles ended in distance. What’s more, the man’s colorful Creole accent and colorful Louisiana background made for good television (the reason he became an HBO attraction). After all, Regis Prograis was fighting an archrival that night — 15-0 Josh Taylor — for a unified junior welterweight championship. Taylor held the IBF while Prograis held the WBC crown. The fight can be considered a throw-in. He fought well, but Taylor edged him out.
In normal times this would not be a big problem. In 21st century boxing, however, a loss can be the death knell of one’s career. A loss is a loss in the UFC, and a loss in boxing today. Funny, sure, but it is what it is. Apparently Rocky Marciano, Floyd Mayweather and a handful of others are the true greats. Names like Ali, Leonard, Pacquiao, Dempsey, Robinson, Lewis and countless others need not apply. Fortunately, Progress has chosen to ignore this absurd narrative. Naturally, the man has gone 3-0 since the Taylor fight. But Prograys doesn’t seem to have done it, and the only L on the review is for him to stick to his psyche.
Leading up to his fight with Jose Zapeda this weekend, Prograys was easy-going and confident. Even Zapeda’s creepy smile in front of his last press conference this week didn’t put the man down. One would think that Progres would be a little worried at this point, with the 12-rounder for the WBC junior welterweight belt scheduled for this weekend at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California. Here he is, with a chance to have a green belt around his waist again, and he’s simply chilling. But that’s just Prograis.
“I’m going to do my job on Saturday night,” he said. ESNEWS After appearing with Zapeda. “That’s when I go do what I have to do.” No bells. No whistle. Box only. “That’s not me,” he said of his pre-fight antics. “Mostly I’m silent. I don’t need to say anything. One thing is for sure, Progress is not confident. “Twelve rounds will be a dominant performance,” he said of this weekend’s fight.
