Next month, light welterweight contender Oscar Duarte faces former two-time 140-lb champion Regis Prograis in a 12-round headliner on February 15 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. The event will be shown live on DAZN.
Stepping stone
Golden Boy Promotions has selected Prograis as an opponent to be used as a stepping stone for the career of #9 WBA Duarte (28-2-1, 22 KOs), who has looked good since being knocked out by Ryan Garcia in the eighth round was knocked out. on December 2, 2023.
If Duarte wins this fight, he will get a higher ranking in the World Boxing Association, as he is far from being in a position to challenge for a world title.
Regis’ fall
This is a must-win fight for the 35-year-old Prograis (29-3, 24 KOs), as he has lost two in a row and hasn’t won since 2023. Regis is coming off a one-sided 12-rounder. unanimous decision defeat to Jack Catterall on October 26 in Manchester, England.
Former WBA and WBC light welterweight champion Prograis made a beatable fighter look better than he was in that fight. Before that, Regis lost Devin Haney by a one-sided 12-round unanimous decision on December 9, 2023.
Prograis should regain its best form from 2015 to 2022. In his losses to Haney and Catterall, Prograis lacked the pressure he had earlier in his career and seemed afraid of getting hit.
Surprisingly, the lightweight Catterall dropped Prograis twice in the ninth round, and he looked timid for the remainder of the 12-round fight.
Return or retirement?
If Regis loses to Duarte, he should consider retiring because it will make it clear that he has no future. The only way to save things would be for Prograis to drop to 135 to try and reinvent himself. It would be pointless for him to go up to 147 because he already showed chin problems at 140.
Duarte is coming off a 10-round unanimous decision over Botirzhon Akhmedov on November 16th. It was a good fight that involved a lot of two-way action. Akhmedov hurt Duarte at one point in the fight, landing a lot of heavy shots. Duarte’s strength and strong chin enabled him to win the fight. However, it was not an easy battle for him.
“I understand that inactivity is the death of a warrior. At this stage of my career, I want and need to be more active,” said Prograis. “I think this fight has fireworks written all over it. My opponent is a strong, tough and hungry fighter, and it should be a great night in California. I’m excited for this fight and looking forward to next month.”
