An American werewolf in London
Prograis can’t wait to get teeth into home hero Josh
CONFIDENT Regis Prograis believes Josh Taylor will crumble under the weight of expectation when the pair meet in the final of the World Boxing Super Series.
The WBA champion believes his time is now as he puts the finishing touches on his training camp ahead of the pair’s lightwelterweight unification bout in London on October 26.
Prograis is nicknamed Rougarou after a fearsome, fabled werewolf who wreaks havoc in the Louisiana swamps.
And he can’t wait to sink his teeth into Taylor.
There has been an increased level of exposure for the unbeaten American since he touched down in the Big Smoke earlier this month but he is relishing his new status.
It’s a different story for Taylor, who has been dealing with the glare of the spotlight since winning gold at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, but the dust-up next Saturday is his biggest test to date.
The Tartan Tornado, who is now based in London working alongside trainer Shane McGuigan, will be backed by a huge travelling support as the Scottish hero looks to add another title to go alongside his coveted IBF belt.
But the 30-year-old New Orleans native reckons the Edinburgh ace could come unstuck with 20,000 expectant supporters set to shake the O2 Arena to its core.
Prograis exclusively told Record Sport: “I know it’s going to be a huge show and he will have a lot of fans but I feel the pressure will be on him.
“All his people are going to be there and when you have the home crowd advantage all the pressure is on you.
“Everyone he has ever known is likely going to be there and I’m away from home. It’s going to hit him and he’s going to be the more nervous fighter.
“Taylor told me in the past he was nervous before he fought Viktor Postol and against Ivan Baranchyk, he didn’t fight like he was supposed to fight.
“But I’m training for the best Taylor and not expecting anything else.
“I don’t want to judge him by his past performances, when I get in the ring I want to see the best version of Josh.”
Prograis admits he is hoping to become a boxing bogeyman for the world’s best fighters.
If he defeats Taylor then a showdown with highly-rated Jose Ramirez, who holds the other two light-welterweight belts, could be next.
But Prograis insists he won’t hesitate to make a move to welterweight if an all-American superfight cannot be agreed.
He said: “My goal is to become the undisputed champion at my weight class. I have a personal letter from Mauricio Sulaiman (WBC president), that I will fight Jose next.
“But I won’t wait about, if the fight isn’t there, I’ll move up to welterweight. You’ve got Errol Spence, Shawn Porter, Danny Garcia and Keith Thurman. All those fights would be tough but I believe I can be the man.”
His ultimate goal is a showdown against the man many believe is the best fighter in the world down the line.
Prograis added: “Terence Crawford is the toughest fight for me. That’s just because of his skillset but I still think I can beat him.”