Jose Zepeda is good. Regis Prograis is exceptional.
That was evident on Saturday night at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California, where the talented Prograis dominated and then knocked Zepeda 59 seconds into the 11th round.order round to be a two-time 140-pound title-winner.
The New Orleans boxer has no doubt about who is the better boxer.
“I trained like six months for this fight,” he said. “I wanted to take him to deep water and submerge him, take him to deep water, put my foot on him and bring him down.”
Regis Prograis KO Jose Zepeda in the 11th round! pic.twitter.com/VAR1bLBc2P
— @𝗙𝗧𝗕𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗱𝟳 (@FTBeard7) November 27, 2022
Prograis (28-1, 24 KOs) has been largely forgotten since he lost his first title to Josh Taylor by majority decision in 2019. He has since won three games. for a spot in the vacant title but managed to do so in relatively little knowledge. .
On Saturday, fighting over pay-per-view, he reminded fans of what made him one of the most respected and exciting young stars in the world just a few years ago.
Prograis found a starting groove in the second round, holding Zepeda (35-3, 27 KOs) at the end of his quick jab and knocking him out with a series of precise, sharp shots to win the game. won round after round.
And Zepeda never really adjusted. Instead, he continued to box at a distance with a super boxer rather than trying to get inside or somehow upset him. That would be his only chance to win the fight.
The ending was a bit unexpected as Prograis hadn’t injured Zepeda in over 10 rounds, at least not bad. However, that changed immediately.
Prograis, like Zepeda to the south, discovered his opponent’s chin with a backhand so powerful that he whirled backwards into the ropes. His prey was wounded, and the hunter chased after him with a barrage of blows that eventually caused Zepeda to fall.
And that was enough for referee Ray Corona, who stopped the match without counting to save Zepeda from undue punishment.
Prograis took an insurmountable lead after 10 innings, 98-92, 98-92 and 97-93. Boxing Junkie also had a winner before 98-92, eight second innings.
Spectacular performance, spectacular finish.
As a result, Prograis won the vacant WBC junior championship belt that Taylor had vacated. And in the process, he has reclaimed his place as a major player in the sport.
He was then asked who he wanted to fight next. Taylor still holds the WBO belt. And the talented Alberto Puello recently won the WBA title. However, Prograis didn’t want to call anyone out. His philosophy: Let them come to him now.
“I don’t name anyone anymore,” he said. “… At first no one wanted to say my name. Now I’m a two-time champion, now let them call my name.”
