‘Rougarou’ Regis Prograis handles business, moves on to WBSS
New Orleans, (July 14, 2018)- The buzz of Regis Prograis (22-0 19KO’s) is growing, his entry into the World Boxing Super Series has the die-hard base of boxing fandom salivating. Getting passed opponent Juan Velasco (20-1 12KO’s) was supposed to be all but set in stone to herald the coming of the Rougarou.
Walking to the ring in a spectacle, Regis Prograis stepped into what looked like the toughest fight of his young career. Velasco didn’t come to lose.
Landing a hard left hook in a slow opening round Velasco caught the crowd by surprise as the shot had effect. Prograis didn’t look ferocious, didn’t look menacing. He looked normal, and patient.
Until the second round started.
Regis Prograis lands a left hand. Photo: Mikey Williams/Top Rank
Methodically, Prograis started to work the body of Velasco, eating two to land one. One really good one and then another and another. In the fifth round Prograis started to land big, and a left hook to the solar-plexus of Velasco sent him to the canvas grimacing in pain.
Making it to his feet, the knockdown served as a signal to the end as Velasco would go down again in the seventh from a left hook to the body. In between rounds Velasco told his corner he was done, that he wanted to stop. In a horrible scene his corner told him to keep fighting, the he “had another round in him”.
Subsequently Velasco was dropped again in the eighth round from another left hook to the body from a swarming Prograis. Velasco’s trainer then prompted the referee to stop the fight in a predictable scene of his fighter hurt. Taking more punishment than he should’ve.
“This dude came in unknown, now he’s known. I’m not gonna lie, he was one of my toughest fights.” Said Prograis after the fight. When asked what’s next for him aside from the WBSS Prograis said “I’m goin to the World Boxing Super Series, if Pacquiao wants to come down or if Vasyl Lomachenko wants to come up then that’s something.”
When pressed on the fight that fans wanted against Jose Ramirez, Prograis said “one day me and Jose Ramirez are gonna fight”
With a profile that’s rapidly growing in stature, fighting on ESPN is surely helping Rougarou increase his popularity amongst casuals. His fan friendly fight style and willingness to engage is a breath of fresh air for televised boxing.
