By Adam Baskin: Eddie Hearn says he’s been contacted by Devin Haney about wanting to fight WBC light welterweight champion Regis Prograis next at 140.
Hearn, who recently signed Prograis (28-1, 24 KOs) to a multi-fight contract with Matchroom Boxing, states that he must win his June 17th fight against challenger Danielito Zorrilla for the match against Haney to be possible.
Prograis has excellent power, and his pressure-fighting style could be a bridge too far for Haney. He’s got the kind of power that will take the judges out of play.
Haney (30-0, 15 KOs) is moving up to 140 under a dark cloud from his controversial decision win over Vasyl Lomachenko.
Haney fleeing the 135-lb division
In the eyes of the fans, Haney lost that fight. So for him to move up to 140 without clearing up the mess from the Loma fight makes Haney look weak.
One way for Haney to defuse some of the criticism is for him to challenge Prograis for his WBC title, as many see him as the #1 guy at 140.
After Haney’s performance against Loma, he’d be in a no-win situation if he moved up to light welterweight and took a tune-up against a fringe contender.
You hate to say it, but Haney almost has to fight a talent like Prograis because that’s the only way he can come out ahead with the boxing public and be viewed as courageous.
The fact that Haney is leaving the 135-lb division without giving Lomachenko a rematch and staying to fight his WBC mandatory Shakur Stevenson and Gervonta Davis, it looks like he’s making a run for it.
Prograis will be headlining against Zorilla on June 17th at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans. The event will be shown on DAZN.
Devin wants Prograis
“He called me the other night. He wants to fight Regis Prograis,” said Eddie Hearn to the DAZN Boxing Show about Devin Haney wanting to move up to 140 and challenge Regis Prograis for his WBC light welterweight title next.
“He wants to move up to 140. He wants a belt. I said to him that he’s got to be a little bit careful because part of his value is he’s undisputed. So when he moves up a division, that’s the risk he takes from there.
“But he’s identified Regis Prograis as the fight that he wants. Regis loves the fight. He has [Danielito] Zorrilla first on June 17th. He’s got to smash him to pieces. He’s got to shout out Devin Haney.
“We’ve got to get those guys together and get the right number for both guys, and I believe we can make that happen,” said Hearn.
