HANEY AND PROGRAIS COME FACE TO FACE
Get ready for a Super-Lightweight showdown as Devin Haney and Regis Prograis prepare to collide at the Chase Center in San Francisco, California on Saturday, December 9th. This high-stakes bout will be broadcast live on DAZN PPV across North America and to audiences worldwide.
Devin Haney, with a pristine record of 30 wins, including 15 knockouts, is returning to his Bay Area roots in a quest to claim a second weight division title. After achieving undisputed status at 135 pounds by defeating George Kambosos Jr in Australia in June 2022, he successfully defended his title twice – once in a rematch in October and then against the renowned Vasiliy Lomachenko in Las Vegas this past May. Now, the 24-year-old San Francisco native stands on the brink of creating more history with his very first fight on home soil.
Regis Prograis, holding a record of 29 wins, with 24 by knockout, will put his WBC title on the line for the second time. His first successful defense was against Danielito Zorrilla in his New Orleans home territory in April. He then elevated his status as a two-time holder of the green and gold belt by delivering a knockout in the 11th round against Jose Zepeda in Carson, California. The 34-year-old 'Rougarou' now returns to The Golden State to face the former undisputed Lightweight champion.
Eddie Hearn, the promoter, has big plans for the winner of the Haney-Prograis duel, with an eye on matching them against Ryan Garcia after the December 9th fight. Hearn anticipates that this fight should be relatively easy to arrange, given that Ryan (23-1, 19 KOs) is under the banner of Golden Boy Promotions and shares the DAZN platform with both Haney and Prograis.
However, there's a twist to the tale. Oscar De La Hoya has expressed a desire to pit Ryan Garcia against WBO light welterweight champion Teofimo Lopez on February 10th, aligning with the Super Bowl weekend. Hearn, on the other hand, foresees complications in making that bout happen as it involves a different network, ESPN. This potential clash between Ryan and Teofimo Lopez could potentially add further complexities to the equation.
Some fans may question Ryan's readiness to challenge the Haney-Prograis winner, especially after his recent loss to Gervonta Davis. Furthermore, his upcoming tune-up fight on December 2nd against lightweight fringe contender Oscar Duarte is a mismatch concerning weight classes.
A looming concern regarding Devin Haney's move to the 140-pound division is his ability to thrive there. Known for having a significant size advantage over his lightweight opponents due to his previous status as a welterweight who cut down to 135, Haney now steps into the super-lightweight division. This transition lessens his colossal size edge, but he still maintains a relative size advantage, though it's now just one division higher than his opponents.
It's an intriguing scenario and one that has garnered Hearn's respect for Devin Haney's audacious move to 140 after a triumphant run at 135. As for the hardest puncher at 140, Hearn considers Regis Prograis as a strong contender, alongside the likes of Teofimo Lopez and Gervonta Davis, who's known to fluctuate between weight classes.
Allowing Ryan Garcia to vie for a world title at 140 after just one tune-up fight against Oscar Duarte may raise concerns among fighters and fans. A compelling argument suggests that Ryan should face a contender from the light welterweight division before being granted a chance to battle for a world title against the winner of the Prograis-Haney contest.
It's not sufficient that Ryan squares off against the lightweight division's fringe contender, ranked #15 by the WBO, in the form of Duarte. To truly earn the right to contend for a world title against the Prograis-Haney victor, Ryan should test his mettle against a contender from the 140-pound weight class, preferably one in the top five.
Finesse Boxing
