Regis Prograis has signed his contract to defend his WBC super-lightweight title against Devin Haney, and plans to hurt the 24-year-old ‘real bad.’
Following his victory over Vasily Lomachenko to retain his undisputed lightweight title, Haney was faced with a decision to defend in that division or make a long-awaited move up to 140lbs and challenge for a new belt.
With the call to jump up in weight made, he looks set to go straight into a fight with Prograis, who won the vacant WBC world title against Jose Zepeda and has defended it once against Danielito Zorrilla.
Speaking to ES News, Prograis said the fight is on.
“Listen, me and Haney is happening. I don’t have a location, I don’t have a date, but we official. I signed my part, I’m just waiting on him to get back at me, but it looks like everything official with me and Haney.”
When confirming he was going this route, Haney also entered a request to the WBC that would allow him to keep his belt at lightweight whilst campaigning out of the division.
A decision from the sanctioning body has yet to be reached, but Prograis believes it should be a firm no.
“It’s bulls**t – he can’t keep his belts. Mauricio [WBC] should strip him, let somebody else fight for all them belts at 135.
He tryna have a protection plan. He tryna come up to 140, see if he can get this belt – which he not gonna get, I’m gonna knock him the f**k out, beat him up bad – and then try to have a cushion at 135 to say ‘I’m still undisputed.’
No. We not doing that. If you coming to fight me, you stay at 140. You gotta fight me for my belt, and that’s how it’s gonna be. Have confidence in yourself. I signed my part, now it’s on him to sign his part.”
A rumoured date in October for the fight has not been confirmed. It’s set to be promoted by Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom, which currently handles Prograis’ career and has worked with Haney in the past.