Welterweight contender Oscar Duarte will next month face former two-time 140-pound champion Regis Prograis in a 12-rounder on February 15 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. The event will be shown live on DAZN.
A stepping stone
Golden Boi Promotions has selected Prograis as the opponent that will be used as a springboard for the career of No. 9 WBA Duarte (28-2-1, 22 KOs), who has looked good since being knocked out in the eighth round by Ryan Garcia on December 2, 2023.
If Duarte wins this fight, he will receive a higher ranking with the World Boxing Association as he is still far from being in a position to fight for a world title.
The Fall of Regis
This is a must-win fight for the 35-year-old Prograis (29-3, 24 KOs), who has lost two in a row and hasn’t won since 2023. Regis is coming off a one-sided 12-round unanimous decision loss to Jack Catterall October 26 in Manchester, England.
Former WBA and WBC light heavyweight champion Prograis made the beatable fighter look better than he did in that fight. Before that, Regis lost to Devin Haney by unilateral decision in 12 rounds, 09.12.2023.
Prograis needs to recapture his best form from 2015 to 2022. In his losses to Hani and Catterall, Prograis didn’t apply the pressure he did earlier in his career, and looked like he was afraid of getting hit.
Surprisingly, the lightweight Caterall dropped Prograis twice in the ninth round, and he looked timid for the rest of the 12-round fight.
Return or retirement?
If Regis loses to Duarte, he needs to consider retiring because that would make it clear that he has no future. The only way to save things would be for Prograis to drop to 135 and try to reinvent himself. It would be pointless for him to go to 147 as he has already shown chin issues at 140.
Duarte is coming off a 10-round unanimous decision against Bottirjon Akhmedov on November 16. It was a good fight that included a lot of two-way action. Akhmedov hurt Duarte at one point in the fight and landed a lot of hard shots. Duarte’s power and strong chin allowed him to win the fight. However, it was not an easy fight for him.
“I understand that inaction is the death of a fighter.” At this point in 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 I’m looking forward to next month.”