By Ian S Palmer
WBC Junior Welterweight Champion Regis Prograis of New Orleans returns to the ring this Saturday, June 17th when he takes on Danieleta Zorrilla of Puerto Rico. The 12-rounder from Prograis’ hometown can be seen live in most nations on DAZN. Prograis last boxed in November when he stopped Jose Zepeda in the 11th round to win the vacant title. Zorrilla last saw action in March when he stopped Aristides Quintero in just 96 seconds.
The 34-year-old Prograis has an impressive record of 28-1 with 24 Ko’s. He won the interim WBC Junior Welterweight Title when he stopped Julius Indongo in the second round in March, 2018 and then won the vacant WBC Diamond belt against Juan Velasco with an eighth-round stoppage four months later. He defended against Terry Flanagan and Kiryl Relikh and also won the WBA with the win over Relikh. He then ran into IBF Champion Josh Taylor in the World Boxing Super Series Final in October, 2019 and was edged by a majority decision for his lone pro defeat.
Prograis enjoyed a fine amateur career and has also won the NABF Junior Super Lightweight Title and NABF Super Lightweight Crown since turning pro in 2012. He’s boxed a total of 136 rounds since then and stands 5-feet-8-inches tall with a 67-inch reach. The most noticeable thing about Prograis is obviously the 24 Ko’s in his 27 victories which translates into a current knockout ratio of 82.8 per cent.
Prograis is a dangerous puncher who isn’t really interested in hearing what the judges have to say about his fights but he’s also a fine boxer. Along with beating Zepeda, Indongo, Relikh, Velasco, Ivan Redkach and Flanagan, he’s also beaten the likes of Joel Diaz Jr., Luis Eduardo Florez, Aaron Herrera, Abel Ramos, Juan Heraldez and Hector Velazquez. Prograis was interested in a rematch with Josh Taylor at one point to avenge his lone loss and that could still be a possibility in the future.
The 29-year-old Zorrilla climbs into the ring with a mark of 17-1 with 13 Ko’s and has fought just 69 rounds since making his pro debut in 2016. Before that, he enjoyed a pretty good amateur career. This will be his first shot at a world title but has captured the WBO, NABO Super Lightweight Title since turning pro by winning the vacant belt in March, 2021 via an eight-round technical decision over Ruslan Madiyev.
Zorrilla was hit behind the head and couldn’t continue after Madiyev was deducted a point in the fifth round for hitting behind the head. He also had a shot at the vacant WBO Inter-Continental Title last July but suffered his lone defeat as a pro when he dropped a 10-round unanimous decision to Arnold Barboza Jr. He also has wins over the likes of Pablo Cesar Cano, Jesus Campos, Juan Cordones, Gamiel Diaz, and Luis Eduardo Florez, so will be taking a pretty good leap up in class this weekend.
Zorrilla measures 5-feet-9-inches tall with a 70-inch reach so has an inch edge in height on Prograis as well as a three-inch reach advantage. He also boasts quite a bit of power in his arsenal as his current knockout ratio clocks in at an impressive 72.2 per cent and has stoppages in five of his last seven fights. Therefore, he always has a puncher’s chance.
Prediction…
Prograis is a world-class boxer with plenty of skills and power with his power being the reason for most of his victories however. Zorrilla also has good power but this is a fight which could go the distance since both boxers have solid chins. However, when you combine Prograis’ power and with his boxing skills I’m expecting him to come out on top this Saturday night in a hard-fought battle.
