By Mark Eisner: WBA light welterweight champion Regis Prograis has pulled out of his World Boxing Super Series final unification match against Josh Taylor. Prograis’ promoter Lou DiBella is looking to free him from his contract, according to ESPN.
According to a statement from DiBella, there were missed deadlines for money to be paid for Prograis’ purse by the WBSS tournament organizers. The lawsuit was filed in the New Jersey district court.
WBA 140 pound champion Prograis (24-0, 20 KOs) and IBF light welterweight champion Taylor (15-0, 12 KOs) were supposed to be fighting each other in the World Boxing Super Series final in October in a unification match.
Prograis and DiBella Entertainment’s statement
“Today in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, Regis Prograis and DiBella Entertainment, Inc. filed for a declaratory judgment that Comosa AG, the owner of the World Boxing Super Series, has breached its contractual obligations to Prograis and DBE. Prograis and DBE further informed Comosa that Prograis is withdrawing from the WBSS, effective immediately.
Today’s action is the result of a long and repeated pattern of behavior by Comosa that includes late payments, scheduling delays, bad faith representations, missed deadlines, and broken promises. A recitation of this behavior can be found in the Complaint filed today.”
It’s up in the air whether Comosa AG will be able to fix this problem. It would be great if they can bring Prograis back to the WBSS tournament to face Taylor in the final. There were a lot of boxing fans that were looking forward to seeing Prograis and Taylor battle it out.
If Prograis is gone for good from the tournament, then it’s hard to imagine who would step in to face Taylor in the WBSS final. They likely have an alternate that they can bring in to face Taylor, but the tourney won’t be the same with Prograis having pulled out.
WBC/WBO light welterweight champion Jose Ramirez, Adrien Broner, Vergil Ortiz Jr. or Subriel Matias would be excellent replacements for Prograis. However, it’s questionable whether they would be willing to step in to face the unbeaten Taylor. If they’re worried about being paid, that would be an issue as well that would keep these guys from filling in for Prograis against Taylor.
Prograis’ statement continued
“There is no one more disappointed by this turn of events than Regis Prograis, who has expressed his desire to unify the super lightweight division on a number of occasions. Comosa was provided every opportunity to see the WBSS to conclusion but it failed at every turn to meet its obligations to the contracted fighters. This action was commenced only after Prograis and DBE determined, as a result of Comosa’s conduct, that his participation in this venture was no longer possible.”
Money obviously will change everything. Prograis’s career will take off if he beats Taylor in the final of the WBSS tournament. Prograis needs a solid victory over a guy like Taylor for him to increase his popularity.