By Ian S Palmer
The interim WBC World Super Lightweight Title is on the line at the Lakefront Arena in New Orleans, Louisiana this Saturday, October 27th as the current unbeaten interim boss Regis Prograis of Houston, Texas clashes with Terry Flanagan of Manchester, England. The 12-round bout is a part of the World Boxing Super Series and can be seen in most areas of the world live on DAZN. Prograis, who now fights out of new Orleans, last fought in July when he stopped the previously undefeated Juan Jose Velasco in the eighth round. Flanagan’s last bout was in June when he lost in his shot at the vacant WBO Super Lightweight crown to Maurice Hooker via a split decision.
The 29-year-old Prograis won the interim title when he stopped Julius Indongo in the second round in March and then defended it against Velasco and has now made a name for himself in the boxing world. He’ll climb into the ring with a perfect record of 22-0 with 19 Kos to his name. 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 80 rounds since then. Prograis stands 5-feet-8-inches tall and possesses a 67-inch reach.
The most noticeable thing about Prograis is obviously his 19 knockouts Kos in his 22 victories and that translates into a current knockout ratio of 86 per cent. The southpaw is a dangerous puncher who isn’t really interested in hearing what the judges have to say about his fights. Along with beating Indongo and Velasco, Prograis also has victories over the likes of Joel Diaz Jr., Luis Eduardo Florez, Aaron Herrera, Abel Ramos and Hector Velazquez. He certainly hasn’t been taking on a steady stream of top contenders, but did step up in class in his last few fights.
The 29-year-old Flanagan is also a southpaw and is a former WBO Lightweight Champion who defended his title five times before moving up in weight to meet Hooker. Flanagan won the vacant belt against Jose Zepeda by a second-round stoppage in July, 2015. He’s been pretty active since as he defended it against Diego Magdaleno by second-round stoppage three months later, beat Derry Mathews by unanimous decision, beat Mzonke Fana by unanimous decision in July, 2016, then stopped Orlando Cruz four months later and beat Petr Petrov by unanimous decision in April, 2017.
The once-beaten Flanagan climbs into the ring with a mark of 33-1 with 13 Kos and is also a former European and British Lightweight Champion. He’s a a slick-boxing southpaw who has a fine jab and usually prefers to dictate the pace of his fights. He turned pro back in 2009 and has boxed 190 rounds since then with a knockout ratio of just 38 per cent. The former champion stands just over 5-feet-9-inches tall with a 71-inch reach. Therefore he’s just over an inch taller than Prograis and has a four inch edge in reach.
Flanagan’s biggest wins have come over the likes of Gary Sykes, Nate Campbell, Zepeda, Magdaleno, Mathews, Fana, Petrov and Cruz. While he’s beaten some good boxers up to now, Flanagan hasn’t really taken on any big-name elite boxers as of yet as most of his fights have been against domestic and European opponents. He arguably took a step up in class against hooker and fell just short even though the fight was basically held in his hometown. Flanagan has an exciting style though and his power is perhaps a but underrated.
Prediction…
Flanagan has a solid chin and it’s going to be tested by Prograis. He also has underrated power, quick hands and overwhelms opponents with his aggressiveness, but it’s unlikely he’s going to be able to keep Prograis off of him for 12 rounds. Flanagan may have some success with his boxing skills and could frustrate Prograis in the early going, but I think Prograis will eventually overpower him.
