Regis Prograis puts his WBC junior welterweight title on the line Saturday against Devin Haney at the Chase Cenrter in San Francisco.
Prograis, a two-time world champion, headlines a U.S.-based pay-per-view for the first time, with DAZN carrying the box office bout.
Prograis has a unique career and a largely untold story.
Originally from New Orleans but displaced by Hurricane Katrina, Prograis relocated to Houston, Texas, training with Bobby Benton.
Prograis has spent time between Texas and Southern California over the last seven to eight years. Now, Prograis has a career-defining fight, a moment that will forever set the lens the rest of his career is seen through. Let’s revisit his path to this point.
1. A hard road
Prograis was given nothing in the sport. With an unassuming amateur record, Prograis was forced to prove himself on ShoBox: The Next Generation early in his career.
He stopped three undefeated fighters on that platform — Abel Ramos, Joel Diaz Jr., and Juan Jose Velasco — and also stop former world champion junior welterweight unified champion Julius Indongo.
Before that Prograis was fighting on cards for little pay.
2. World Boxing Super Series
Prograis entered the junior welterweight boxing tournament in 2018. The two notable fighters entering the tournament were Prograis and Josh Taylor. They met in the finals, and Prograis lost a close split decision to Taylor.
Through the World Boxing Super Series, a lot of fights fans were introduced to Prograis — a tremendous puncher with a vibrant personality.
3. No network investment
Prograis left the tournament as a runner-up and then stopped Juan Heraldez on a Showtime pay-per-view undercard. He also stopped Ivan Redkach on Triller, before signing with now-defunct fight firm Probellum.
Despite being one of the top talents in the division, Prograis was hard to find when it came to television and prominent placement on cards. Not featured on the top of shows, and also not consistent with one network. Prograis saw life after the COVID-19 pandemic find him with little to no promotion.
4. Two-time world champ
Prograis stopped Jose Zepeda from becoming a two-time world champion last November. Prograis finished Zepeda in the 11th round of a grueling fight that showed his power could go deep into a fight.
The undercurrent of the fight was malcontent. MarvNation Promotions, a California regional promoter won the bid for the fight, and the bout ended up on pay-per-view. This meant only a few casual or somewhat hardcore boxing fans saw the bout. Despite being a good fight, it had a hefty price tag that limited exposure.
5. Signing with Matchroom Boxing
Prograis signed with Matchroom Boxing in 2023 amid a "bidding war" for his talent. Prograis’ first fight was a homecoming against Danielito Zorrilla. The bout saw Prograis consistently move to his right and fail to cut off the ring. Despite winning, he looked sub-par.
Now, Prograis is in the second of a three-fight deal with Matchroom Boxing and will fight Devin Haney, who is moving up to the junior welterweight division after being an undisputed lightweight champion.
This is Prograis’ hall-of-fame fight. If Prograis wants to go in, more than likely he must win this fight to secure his legacy.
