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