Regis Prograis is ready to rebuild and revive his career to make a third run at a junior welterweight title.
Prograis (29-2, 24 KOs) will have to pick up the pieces again following a one-sided December defeat to WBC titleholder Devin Haney.
“Rougarou” Prograis is still a rock-solid contender at 140 pounds, a stacked division that features Haney, Teofimo Lopez Jr., Isaac Cruz, Subriel Matias, Jose Ramirez, Jack Catterall, Richardson Hitchins, Gary Antuanne Rusell, Rolando “Rolly” Romero, Sandor Martin, Dalton Smith and former Prograis conqueror and one-time undisputed champion Josh Taylor.
At 35 years old, the southpaw slugger Prograis is still firmly planted in the middle of the pack.
“Every time someone fights at 140 pounds, the division is shifting,” Prograis told BoxingScene. “They look bad, and then they look good. The cards keep shifting, but I am still in the mix.
“It’s all about the bounceback. The greatest fighters have done it, which I plan on doing, too. My goal is to become a three-time world champion.
“Give me a comeback fight and let’s get into them. I want to fight good fighters. I want the belts. … Boxing is crazy, and sometimes you don’t get the fights you want.”
Prograis listed Smith, Catterall and Matias as three of his next most viable opponents. All fighters are signed to Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing, just like Prograis.
Prograis first became a 140-pound titleholder in 2019 when he stopped Kiryl Relikh. However, he lost the belt in the following bout against Taylor, a close and competitive majority decision defeat during a Fight of the Year contender.
After three fights against middling opposition, Prograis once more realized his world title aspirations by knocking out Jose Zepeda in 2022.
Now, he’s ready to follow his previous blueprint for a third crack at a crown in a division he will one day retire in.
“I’m self-reflecting to get better,” said Prograis, who recently released a book about his life.
“It makes no sense to risk your life if you don’t want to get better. I’m about investing in myself. I have no doubt in my mind that I will be a world champion once again.”
Manouk Akopyan is a sports journalist, writer and broadcast reporter. He’s also a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and the MMA Journalists Association. He can be reached on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube at @ManoukAkopyan, through email at manouk[dot]akopyan[at]gmail.com or via www.ManoukAkopyan.com.