Former champion Regis Prograis and longtime rival Jose Zepeda will compete for the vacant 140-pound belt on Saturday in Carson, California.
REGISTER PROGRAM (27-1, 23 KO) vs JOSE ZEPEDA (35-2, 27 KO)
- Day: Saturday, November 26
- Time: 9pm ET / 6pm Pacific Time (main event follows)
- Where: Dignity Health Sports Park, Carson, California
- television/stream: Pay Per View ($59.99)
- Assignment: Junior weight class (140 pounds)
- threatened: WBC title vacant
- Pound-for-pound ratings: Not available
- the odds: Prograis 3½-1 favorite (multi-store average)
- Also on the card: Evelyn Bermudez vs Yokasta Valle, junior flyweight (Bermudez IBF and WBO belt); Ruben Torres versus Eduardo Estela, lightweight; Charles Conwell versus Juan Carlos Abreu, junior middleweight; Bakhodir Jalolov vs Curtis Harper, heavyweights
- Guess: University of Danang Program
- Story: This was an excellent match between two talented, experienced 140-pound athletes for a major vacant title. Prograis, an excellent all-rounder, is a former 140-pound master who loosing belt by a tight decision in the unification match against Josh Taylor in 2019. The New Orleans native has stopped three opponents since, Juan HeraldezIvan Redkach and Tyrone McKenna. The McKenna War took place in March. Zepeda is an excellent technician who can also punch and shoot well. This will be the Los Angeles area boxer’s third attempt to win a major title. He fell to then-time 135-pound champion Terry Flanagan by a technical knockout in the second round when he dislocated his shoulder in 2015. And he lost to the 140-pound champion. then Jose Ramirez in 2019, a match that some believe Zepeda deserves to win. He has won 5-0 since that defeat, including wins against respectable rivals Jose Pedraza, Ivan Baranchyk and Hank Lundy. Zepeda last fought last October, when he stop Josee Vargas in a round.
