By Jim Calfa: Regis Prograis says Devin Haney has a tough decision to make on whether to choose to move up to 140 to challenge him for his WBC belt to get his teeth knocked out or stay at 135 and get a boxing lesson from Shakur Stevenson.
The undisputed lightweight champion Haney (30-0, 15 KOs) will need to decide soon, given that the World Boxing Council president Mauricio Sulaiman says he has until this Friday whether he’ll fight his WBC mandatory Shakur next or move up to challenge Prograis for his WBC belt.
The WBC needs to know Haney’s intentions this week because Prograis’ 140-lb mandatory is due against Sandor Martin. They’ll be ordering that fight if Devin chooses not to face him next. The WBC will only allow Prograis to put his title defense against Sandor on hold if he faces Haney next.
Yesterday, Haney posted a reply to Prograis asking Eddie Hearn when he would be facing him, saying, “October.” However, that might not be the case because Haney hasn’t confirmed which direction he’ll be going in for his next fight.
Devin’s options for his next fight
- Gervonta Davis
- Teofimo Lopez
- Ryan Garcia
- Regis Prograis
- Shakur Stevenson
Haney is obviously waiting to see whether he can get a lucrative fight against Gervonta, Teofimo, or Ryan before he decides on his next fight. Of the five options that Haney has, Prograis likely is the #4, whereas Shakur is surely not even a remote possibility.
Either Devin can stay there and get outboxed by Shakur or come up to fight me and get his teeth knocked out. Stuck between a rock and a hard place.
— Rougarou (@RPrograis) July 18, 2023
Haney has too much pride in staying at 135 and giving up his belts one after another. He wants a money fight against Tank; if it’s impossible, he’ll get the best he can at 140.
Prograis (29-1, 24 KOs) looked bad in his last title defense against Danielito Zorrilla last June, winning a twelve round split decision in his debut with Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing promotions.
Haney would have to be seen as a clear favorite over Prograis if thaat fight happens next because Regis showed in the Zorrilla bout that he couldn’t cut off the ring, and he doesn’t have a good enough jab or reach to contend with a long-armed fighter. Prograis’ short arms would put him at the mercy of Haney. As such, the only way Prograis would win is by knockout.
Hearn needs Haney to take the fight with Prograis because it might be his last chance to put him in a well-paying contest before he loses his title. Sandor Martin is talented enough to defeat Prograis and end his short reign as the WBC champion.