By Vince Dwriter: For the past couple of years it seemed like Regis “Rougarou” Prograis was being railroaded by the politics of boxing, but when he finally received another chance to fight for a world title, he took full advantage in November 2022 when he knocked out Jose Zepeda in the eleventh round, and won the vacant WBC super lightweight strap.
Back in 2019, the then WBA super lightweight champion Regis Prograis traveled to London, England, for a unification bout against Josh Taylor. The match was a thrilling back-and-forth battle, but unfortunately for Prograis, he would lose by majority decision.
Following his first professional loss, Prograis would experience a frustrating time period of being avoided and overlooked. Boxers in his weight class didn’t want to take the risk of stepping inside the ring with a competitor who possessed his focus and determination.
Initially, when the undisputed super lightweight champion Josh Taylor started vacating titles, the name Regis Prograis didn’t come up in any of the championship pairings. Fortunately for Prograis, he was able to slide into a spot for a shot at the WBC title due to the fact that Jose Ramirez had to pull out of the bout because he had a personal engagement.
After taking advantage of his opportunity and becoming a two-time world champion at 140, Prograis has gone from being avoided to receiving a mixed bag. The top WBC super lightweight contender Jose Ramirez took a pass on a title shot against Prograis, but a well-known boxer who is on the comeback trail wants a shot at the WBC champ.
Former four-division world champion Adrien Broner’s boxing career was revived when he signed a three-fight deal with BLK Prime. Broner has a bout scheduled for February 25 against Ivan Redkach, and after that fight, he wants to battle Prograis inside of the squared circle.
The WBC super lightweight champion is well aware of Broner’s desire to face him in the ring, and he is more than willing to appease Broner’s request. However, Prograis is a bit skeptical in regards to Broner making weight for his upcoming bout. During an interview with FightHype, Regis Prograis spoke on Broner’s weight issue.
“Ivan looks like he’s in shape, but Broner, I don’t know what weight they can fight at. They can’t fight at forty. I don’t think Broner can make forty-seven. Fifty-four, fifty-two maybe, something like that.”
Prograis would go on to double down on his concern about Broner’s weight. “Listen, bro, I saw him, bro, I was with him. I was just with him. Broner got a stomach on him.”
In addition to Broner, Regis Prograis (28-1, 24 KOs) also has Teofimo Lopez Sr promoting his son as a possible future opponent, but for now, Prograis would welcome a fight with Broner in his hometown of New Orleans, Louisiana.
If Broner is successful on February 25, Prograis views a future fight with him as a big money fight on paper, but he feels he would dominate the actual fight inside of the ring.
“Me and him can do something crazy. Me and him can do something big. I’m not thinking about retirement, but after he fight me, he can go ahead and hang the gloves up, and he can retire, walk away in the sunset, get a big a** paycheck, and just go home.”