Two-division world champion turned pundit, Paulie Malignaggi, has revealed his prediction for the upcoming WBC Super-lightweight Title fight between reigning champion, Regis Prograis, and the former undisputed lightweight king, Devin Haney.
Haney took all the lightweight straps with a dominant win over George Kambosos Jr, which he then defended in both the rematch with the Aussie and in a showdown with pound-for-pound great, Vasily Lomachenko.
Now, the 24-year-old has made the decision to vacate the WBC title in favour of a move up to the 140lbs division, where he will face the two-time and current champion, Prograis.
Speaking on ProBox TV, Malignaggi was confident in his prediction of the all-American contest, anticipating a one-sided display due to the stylistic match-ups of the pair.
“You’re as good as your last fight, of course, and I think that Prograis is getting a little older. Prograis struggles against guys that he has got to close the gap against and I think that, stylistically, Haney’s legs are phenomenal and a big part of his boxing ability.
Styles make fights and I feel like, no matter how good Prograis is and how effective he has been as a world-class, terrific fighter, I think that stylistically it doesn’t blend well [for him]. Haney is a guy who is able to outbox him, with a change of pace and a change of distance and a terrific jab, I feel like it’s just a bad style for Prograis. He is not going to be able to win that fight.”
Prograis and Haney will go toe-to-toe on December 9 in San Francisco, headlining a card that will be available to watch live on DAZN PPV in the States and as part of the regular subscription in the UK.
