Regis Prograis became a world champion in 2019 when he defeated Kiryl Relikh, which allocated him the WBA world title - yet, Prograis felt the climb to the top was easy, but loss to Josh Taylor was very hard.
Regis Prograis will get his chance to become a two-time world champion when he faces Jose Zepeda, on Saturday, November 26th, at the Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California - as the two will do battle for the vacant WBC world title, in a pay-per-view clash the Saturday after Thanksgiving.
“I feel like I'm totally different now because when I was the world champion - I'm going to be honest with you - I didn't cherish it,” Prograis told Probellum.com. “At the time I was preparing to fight for the belt I went to L.A. and for my first two weeks there we had parties at the house and all kinds of stuff, and this is me fighting for my world championship!”
Prograis simply reflects honestly that he didn’t value the opportunity the same way he does now because like most boxers he was used to success.
“So now, I feel like I'm a different fighter, my mindset is way different. The first time, it was easy. I just did it. It was easy,” said Prograis in deep reflection. “I was world champion, number one in the world and it was nothing to me I didn't even care about it and this time it has been hard, to scratch my way back to the top to even get to the belt. So now I will cherish that even more. And now I don't do all those things I used to.”
Nothing will be given as Prograis will be facing one of the most exciting fighters in boxing in Jose Zepeda, who relates to what Prograis feels.
Zepeda has never won a world title, but has fought for a title twice. Zepeda lost via a freak injury to Terry Flanagan in his first fight, and a close, dispute decision in Fresno, California to then-WBC 140 lbs champion Jose Ramirez.
Zepeda in 2020 was awarded fight of the year with his bought against Ivan Baranchyk when both fighters hit the canvas four times inside five rounds, and Zepeda knocked out Josue Vargas in one round, the following year.
The fight which will be on pay-per-view is being circled on the calendars of all hardcore fight fans, as it is a good one.