By Adam Baskin: Promoter Eddie Hearn says a deal for the WBC light welterweight Regis Prograis vs. Devin Haney fight is nearly completed for December in the U.S.
Haney is going after the weakest link among the champions at 140 to snatch the belt from the aging 35-year-old Prograis. Devin needs that title to give negotiating muscle to strengthen his position in a fight against WBO champion Teofimo Lopez.
Prograis (29-1, 24 KOs) has signed, and now they’re waiting on the notoriously slow Haney to sign his side of the contract to get the fight done. Hearn says Devin (30-0, 15 KOs) is waiting for the venue to be secured before he signs off.
Boxing fans have mixed feelings about the Prograis-Haney fight because it’s not the one they wanted. People wanted Haney to either challenge WBO 140-lb champion Teofimo Lopez or defend his undisputed lightweight championship against his WBC mandatory Shakur Stevenson.
There are also a lot of fans that want to see Haney show some class by giving Vasily Lomachenko to clear up the huge controversy surrounding the results of that fight.
A tired-looking 24-year-old Haney was dominated by Lomachenko in the championship rounds and appeared to lose the fight. The Nevada judges, however, gave Haney the win by the scores 116–112, 115–113 and 115–113.
Haney was then loudly booed as he departed the ring, which showed that the fans saw him as the loser that the judges gifted a win.
An old school fighter from the past would have set up a rematch with Lomachenko to prove that he was the better fighter and to ensure they didn’t lose fans. Haaney is doing the opposite, choosing to move on, and it’s obviously hurt his popularity.
“That fight is imminent, and I think it is December. It looks like the date is early December. It’s a tremendous fight. Just securing the venue now,” said Eddie Hearn to Boxing Social about the Regis Prograis vs. Devin Haney contest.
“Regis has signed, and Devin hasn’t, but not for any particular reason other than we’re waiting on the site & the venue. Now we have it, and we’re ready to go. Hopefully, signs this week.
“No, an interesting one in America,” said Hearn when asked if the Prograis – Haney fight will be staged in Las Vegas. “No, definitely not until we announce,” Hearn said when asked if he’ll reveal where the fight is heading.
It’s bad timing on Haney’s part to face Prograis because the WBC 140-lb champion is coming off a poor performance last June against Danielito Zorrilla in New Orleans. Prograis dropped & staggered early by Zorrilla and fought scarred, winning a questionable 12 round split decision by the scores 117-110, 118-109 for Regis, and 114-113 for Zorrilla.
