Regis Prograis vs. Oscar Duarte has a fight in the works on February 15th in Anaheim, California. Former two-time light welterweight champion Prograis (29-3, 24 KOs) is looking to snap a two-fight losing streak to turn things around.
Prograis is taking a risk to fight the powerful slugger Duarte, 28, but he has little choice. He is too old to slowly work his way back to the top of the light welterweight rankings. He must beat the best possible fighters at his disposal to get another chance.
twilight years
Regis is coming off a 12-round unanimous decision loss to Jack Catterall on October 26 in Manchester, England.
Catterall is not known for being a big puncher, but he dropped Prograis twice in the ninth round, and he hesitated to attack in the championship rounds after that. The scores were 116-1-0, 117-108 and 116-109.
Prior to that fight, Prograis lost to Devin Haney via a one-sided 12-round unanimous decision on December 9, 2023, and was knocked out in the third round. It seems like Regis’ impact resistance isn’t what it once was.
Lance Pugmire, @pugboxing, is reporting on the Prograis-Duarte fight on February 15. It’s a big one for Regis, who went from being considered the No. 1 guy at 140 to being seen as over-the-hill by many fans.
This is an important fight for Prograis, 35, because he cannot afford to keep losing fights like he has been lately. He wants to become a three-time world champion at 140, but it doesn’t look good for him with the way he keeps getting beat.
Golden Boy-promoted Duarte (28-2-1, 22 KOs) has looked impressive recently, defeating Botirzhon Akhmedov and Joseph ‘Jojo’ Diaz in back-to-back fights since being knocked out by Ryan Garcia in the eighth round in December. 2, 2023.
Unless Prograis can make dramatic improvements before February 15, he will lose to Duarte and possibly be stopped if he can’t handle the power of the Mexican slugger.
