By Brian Webber: WBC mild welterweight champion Regis Prograis nonetheless shaken up about his efficiency final Saturday night time in opposition to Danielito Zorrilla, blaming himself for not doing what he ought to have in opposition to the damaging fashion of the challenger.
Prograis nonetheless received the battle by a twelve spherical cut up choice, however the followers felt that it was a more in-depth contest than the judges scored it. That they had it 117-110, 118-109 for Prograis, and 114-113 for Zorrilla.
What makes Prograis (29-1, 24 KOs) really feel particularly dangerous is he fought at residence in entrance of his followers in New Orleans, and it was his debut along with his new promoter Eddie Hearn.
The nonstop motion that Zorrilla (17-2, 13 KOs) used took Prograis abruptly as a result of, within the Puerto Rican’s previous fights, he’d been knocking out his opponents. Towards his hardest opponent Arnold Barboza Jr, he stood in entrance of him your entire battle.
Prograis says he’s going to study from the efficiency, make enhancements and transfer on to his subsequent battle, which he hopes will likely be in opposition to Devin Haney.
Invoice Haney was at ringside scouting Prograis final weekend for his son Devin, however we’ll see if he needs to go in that path. It may very well be that Invoice will let his son Devin get a battle below his belt earlier than he takes on Prograis.
Additionally, with Teofimo Lopez saying he’s vacating his WBO belt, Haney might go in that path.
Prograis failed to chop off ring
“I received’t be thought of the perfect. So you realize with a efficiency like that, I don’t prefer it. I’m undoubtedly exhausting on myself. I don’t be ok with it,” stated Regis Prograis to Struggle Hub TV about his harder-than-expected win over substitute opponent Danielito Zorrilla final Saturday night time.
“I talked to my coaches, and I’ve rather a lot to enhance on. Yeah, the dude was tough. He ran round. His factor was he wished to return and survive. He didn’t need to get knocked out, particularly after I dropped him. He was extra cautious.”
Most boxing followers would agree that the 34-year-old Prograis has been across the ring lengthy sufficient to know how you can minimize off the ring.
He didn’t do it, and it seemed like he was afraid of getting caught coming in by Zorrilla, who dropped him within the first spherical however wasn’t given credit score for it.
“He didn’t need to have interaction,” Prograis continued about Zorrilla. “He simply ran across the ring the entire time. I by no means had that occur earlier than. I sparred with folks like that however not that a lot. He actually simply ran round the entire time. I’m identical to enjoying cat and mouse, simply making an attempt to catch him the entire time.
“When he was on the skin, he wasn’t even like jabbing an excessive amount of. like generally, once you transfer your toes on the skin, you’re jabbing or not less than making an attempt to do one thing. He simply was like simply transferring simply and simply making an attempt to land one massive counter the entire time,” stated Prograis.
Regis might have minimize off the ring if he’d been prepared to take some photographs from Zorrilla, however he didn’t need to take these punches to drive the difficulty.
“Effectively, for this battle, reducing off the ring,” stated Prograis when requested what he needs to work on after this efficiency. “That’s one thing that we didn’t work on as a result of we didn’t suppose we would have liked to work on, to be trustworthy.
“The fights I watched of him, he knocked some folks out, after which with the battle with Barboza, he stood there and fought him. So I believed that he was going to try this with me. He was going to face there and not less than attempt to be within the pocket and attempt to battle me a bit of bit, however he simply ran across the ring.
“It’s like exhausting to organize for that in case you don’t even know what’s going to occur. I nonetheless really feel like I’m the perfect at 40. I had an off night time, however I nonetheless really feel like I’m the perfect,” Prograis stated.
Regis needs Haney subsequent
I feel me and Devin are simple to be made. I feel we will do this, Matias,” stated Prograis. “He has a belt. I obtained to speak to Eddie [Hearn] clearly. We going to speak subsequent week or one thing like that, and we’ll see what occurs.”
It’s most likely not a good suggestion for Prograis to battle the big-punching IBF mild welterweight champion Subriel Matias after a efficiency just like the one he had in opposition to Zorrilla. Matias is from Puerto Rico as properly, and he’ll cease Prograis if he reveals the identical timidity in opposition to him that he displayed in opposition to Zorrilla.
“There may be Teofimo if he doesn’t keep retired,” stated Prograis. “I don’t know if he’s formally relinquished the belt. I really feel like Josh [Taylor] is just not the identical fighter he was in 2019 when he fought me. I feel we’ll by no means see that Josh ever once more. I feel he’s performed. I don’t suppose he’s at that elite stage no extra.
“Hopefully, we will do it. I feel it’s a straightforward battle to make. They’ve a superb relationship with Matchroom,” stated Prograis about Devin Haney and his father, Invoice. “I feel it’s a superb battle.
“I undoubtedly need the largest fights. I don’t understand how prepared Eddie is to work with Don King,” stated Prograis a couple of battle with Adrien Broner.