Regis Prograis vs. Oscar Duarte will have a fight in the works on February 15 in Anaheim, California. Former light welterweight champion Prograis (29-3-, 24 KOs) is trying to snap a losing streak to turn things around.
Prograis takes a risk by fighting 28-year-old powerhouse slugger Duarte, but he has little choice. He's too old to slowly make his way back to the top of the light welterweight rankings. He must beat the best fighters available to him to get another chance.
The twilight years
Regis is coming off a 12-round unanimous decision loss to Jack Catterall on October 26 in Manchester, England.
Catterall isn't known as a top player, but he dropped Prograis twice in the ninth round, and looked reluctant to attack in the tournament rounds after that. The cores were 116-1-0, 117-108, and 116-109.
Prior to that fight, Prograis lost to Devin Haney via a one-sided 12-round unanimous decision on December 9, 2023, losing in the third round. It seemed that Regis's resistance to punches was no longer what it was before.
Lance Pugmire, @pugboxing, is Preparing reports At the Battle of Prograis-Duarte on February 15. It's a big step for Regis, who went from being the No. 1 guy at 140 to being viewed as over the hill by many fans.
This is an important fight for Prograis, 35, because he cannot afford to lose fights the way he has been lately. He wants to become a three-time world champion at 140, but that doesn't look good for him with the way he keeps getting beaten.
The Golden Boy-promoted Duarte (28-2-1, 22 KOs) has looked impressive as of late, defeating Butyrjon Akhmedov and Joseph “JoJo” Diaz in back-to-back fights since being knocked out in the eighth round by Ryan Garcia on December 2, 2023.
Unless Prograis can make significant improvements before February 15, he will lose to Duarte and possibly be suspended if he cannot handle the Mexican's power.
