Regis Prograis ready to face Devin Haney on Dec.3rd

By Boxing News - 10/16/2021 - Comments

By Allan Fox: Former WBA 140-lb champion Regis Prograis has volunteered to be the opponent for Devin Haney for his next fight on December 3rd on DAZN. Viktor Postol has been mentioned as the possible foe for Haney if he moves up to 140 for his December 3rd fight.

Prograis is the #2 fighter in the light welterweight division behind undisputed 140lb champion Josh Taylor.

It would take a lot of courage on Haney’s part to go straight to the #2 guy Prograis in his first fight in the 140-lb division.

Haney (26-0, 15 KOs) wants to move up to light welterweight for his next fight in December if he can’t get a match against Joseph ‘Jojo’ Diaz Jr for that date.

Prograis (26-1, 22 KOs), who many boxing fans believe was robbed in his 12 round majority decision loss to Josh Taylor in October 2019, is ready to step in and face the undefeated Haney.

Prograis told Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated that he’d fight Haney on that date. Haney’s promoter Eddie Hearn is trying to set up a fight between him and Jojo Diaz (32-1-1, 15 KOs), but it will be a brutal fight to negotiate.

Diaz had previously been set to make $1.5 million for a November 27th fight against Ryan Garcia on DAZN. However, Ryan suffered a wrist injury on Friday and won’t be able to go ahead with the November 27th date against Diaz.

Image: Regis Prograis ready to face Devin Haney on Dec.3rd

Thus far, the money isn’t there yet from Hearn for Diaz to accept the fight with Haney. The offer from Hearn is $1 million to Diaz to fight Haney, according to Mike Coppinger.

If Diaz holds out to get the same $1.5 million that he was previously getting for the Ryan Garcia fight, it’ll be up to Hearn and DAZN if they want to meet or exceed that price.

Of course, Hearn can always go with Prograis as Haney’s opponent for December 3rd, but it’s unclear whether DAZN has the money and enough time to promote a fight between the two in the month and a half remaining before that date.

If Haney wants to show how great he is, he’ll accept the fight with the southpaw Prograis and try and beat him. As long as Haney knows what he’s getting himself into by facing Prograis, he shouldn’t have any excuses afterward if things don’t turn out well for him.

Haney was hurt by his last opponent Jorge Linares on May 29th and forced to clinch from the 9th round through the 12th. Prograis would likely make easy work of Linares if the two fought each other.

Prograis has recent victories over Juan Heraldez and Ivan Redkach since losing to Josh Taylor in 2019 in the World Boxing Super Series tournament.