Regis Prograis has been given an opportunity to become a two-time world champion.
‘Rougarou’ along with Jose ‘Chon’ Zepeda have been put forward by the World Boxing Council to contest their vacant super lightweight title.
The title was vacated by former undisputed champion Josh Taylor at the beginning of last month as he looks to fight Jack Catterall once again later this year.
In a release yesterday the WBC said:
“The World Boxing Council orders a period of free negotiations for José Zepeda and Regis Prograis to face each other for the vacant super lightweight world title.”
Prograis won the WBC’s Diamond title in 2018 but became an official world champion in 2019 beating Kiryl Relikh to take the WBA version with a sixth-round stoppage.
Following that the New Orleans 33-year-old travelled to the UK to face then unified champion Josh Taylor in the World Boxing Super Series final in London. The Scot triumphed in a 2019 fight of the year contender resulting in Prograis’ only career loss to date.
Prograis has bounced back since with three wins from three against Juan Heraldez, Ivan Redkach and Tyrone McKenna, respectively.
As is standard procedure if Team Prograis and Team Zepeda cannot come to an agreement over the fight’s particulars then purse bids will be held on August 30.
Jose Ramirez had been originally put forward to face Zepeda, but the former will marry his partner in October making him unavailable to fight.
Zepeda will be fighting for a second chance at world title glory. The 33-year-old lost out to Ramirez three and a half years ago but has been unbeaten in his six fights since.
The Top Rank 140lb crowd pleaser has notched up impressive wins against Jose Pedraza and in 2020 was involved in a multi-knockdown thriller against Ivan Baranchyk.
Sharing eight trips to the canvas between them Zepeda emerged as the one still standing after a wild five rounds.
The styles of Prograis and Zepeda could combine to serve another classic in the super lightweight division.