JOSH IS MAKING REAL PROGRAIS
Battle with Regis in World Super Series will prove Taylor is best on planet
NEW ORLEANS has a long, storied history with boxing – from Muhammad Ali’s last win to Roberto Duran saying ‘no mas’ to Sugar Ray Leonard.
A century before that, Tom Allen and Jem Mace fought for the bare knuckle heavyweight championship, a prelude to John L Sullivan’s clash with Gentleman Jim Corbett under Queensberry Rules.
The historic fight city will see another chapter written tonight when the undefeated WBC light-welterweight interim champion Regis Prograis comes up against Juan Jose Valasco.
Prograis is a complete throwback to the American pugs of yesteryear – he comes forward and walks down rivals.
There’s a reason he’s No.1 in the super lightweight division by Ring Magazine and ESPN.
I’d pay to watch him any day but will be paying particular attention tonight.
More important than the strap, the winner gains entry into the World Boxing Super Series 140 pound competition starting in September.
This puts him right in the wheelhouse of Scotland’s own Josh Taylor, who is announced for the tournament and ready to fight anybody.
If you’re the best, as I believe Taylor is at super lightweight, then you have to be prepared to take on all-comers.
They call Prograis the “Rougaron”, werewolf in the Cajun French of The Big Easy, where he started life before moving to Texas after the havoc caused by Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and where he fights tonight.
The WBSS is beginning to establish itself in the game and though it doesn’t guarantee the appearance of world champions, it does take away some of the political barriers that often get in the way of the biggest matches.
WBA champion Kyril Relikh is confirmed, so is former IBF champion Eduard Troyanovsky, plus unbeaten Russian Ivan Baranchyk, now based in Miami.
Prograis stopped Julius Indongo in two rounds, a round quicker than Terence Crawford, and Joel Diaz Jnr, who was unbeaten in 23, also in the second round.
He will start among the favourites but Taylor won’t care. It’s not how or where you start but how you finish.
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