By Ian S Palmer
Former WBA World and WBC Diamond Super Junior Welterweight Champion Regis Prograis of New Orleans returns to the ring for the first time since losing the World Boxing Super Series final by a majority decision to IBF Champ Josh Taylor a year ago. Prograis will be taking on unbeaten Juan Heraldez of Northridge, California in a 10-round contest at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. Heraldez last boxed in May, 2019 when he drew Argenis Mendez over 10 rounds. The fight can be seen on Showtime pay-per-view on the undercard of Gervonta Davis vs Leo Santa Cruz.
The 31-year-old southpaw Prograis has a record of 24-1 with 20 Kos. 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 belt against Juan Velasco with an eighth-round stoppage. He then defended against Terry Flanagan and Kiryl Relikh before running into Taylor.
He had a fine amateur career and has also won the NABF Junior Super Lightweight Title and NABF Super Lightweight crown since turning pro in 2012 and has boxed a total of 110 rounds since then. Prograis stands 5-feet-8-inches tall and possesses a 67-inch reach. The most noticeable thing about him is obviously the 20 Kos in his 24 victories which translates into a current knockout ratio of 80 per cent.
Prograis is a dangerous puncher who isn’t really interested in hearing what the judges have to say about his fights. Along with beating Indongo, Velasco and Terry Flanagan, He’s also beaten the likes of Joel Diaz Jr., Luis Eduardo Florez, Aaron Herrera, Abel Ramos and Hector Velazquez.
The 30-year-old Heraldez, who now fights out of Las Vegas, is basically unknown to most fans but has a near-perfect record of 16-0-1 with 10 Kos. He’s boxed just 77 rounds since making his pro debut in 2009 after a brief amateur career and has pretty good power with a current knockout ratio of 58.8 per cent. The only pro bout he hasn’t won was the 10-round majority draw with Argenis Mendez in his last outing in 2019.
Heraldez is 5-feet-8-inches tall with a wingspan of 70.5 inches which gives him a 3.5-inch reach advantage on Prograis. He’s definitely taking a step up in class on Saturday as Mendez has been his toughest opponent to date. Along the way, he’s beaten foes such as Reyes Sanchez, Jose Borrego, Kevin Watts and Eddie Ramirez. However, he did meet Errol Spence Jr in the amateurs in 2008 and dropped a points decision.
Prediction…
Prograis is a world-class boxer with plenty of skills and power while Heraldez is unbeaten but stepping up in class big time. It might take a few rounds to get rid of the ring rust for both of them, but I’m expecting Prograis to emerge victorious on his road to a title shot.
