Do or Die for Prograis: Meet Duarte on DAZN on February 15th
Light welterweight contender Oscar Duarte will face former two-time 140-pound champion Regis Prograis next month in a 12-round title fight on February 15 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. The event will be shown live on DAZN.
Stepping stone
Golden Boy Promotions have selected as their opponent #9 WBA Duarte (28-2-1, 22 KOs), whose career has looked good since being knocked out in the eighth round, to serve as a stepping stone. On December 2, 2023
If Duarte wins this fight, he will get a higher status with the World Boxing Association because he is still not in a position to challenge for a world title.
The fall of Regis
This is a must-win fight for the 35-year-old Prograis (29-3, 24 KOs), as he has lost two in a row and hasn’t won since 2023. Regis is coming from one side 12-round. On a unanimous defeat Jack Catterall On October 26th in Manchester, England.
The former WBA and WBC light welterweight champion made Prograis look like a better contender than he was in that fight. Before that, Regis was defeated Devin Honey Dec. 9, 2023 by one-sided 12-round unanimous decision.
Prograis should have its best form again from 2015 to 2022. With the losses to Haney and Cattrell, Progress didn’t put as much pressure as he had earlier in his career, and seemed afraid of getting hit.
Ironically, the light-hitting Cottrell dropped Progress twice in the ninth round, and looked fearless for the rest of the 12-round fight.
Return or Retirement?
If Regis loses to Duterte, he should consider retiring because it makes it clear that he has no future. The only way to save things is for Prograys to go down to 135 and try to recreate itself. There is no point in going up to 147 because he has already shown chin problems at 140.
Duarte is coming off a 10-round unanimous decision over Botyrchon Akhmedov on Nov. 16. It was a good fight with lots of double action. Akhmedov hurt Duarte and landed several heavy shots during the fight. Duarte’s power and strong chin allowed him to hold the fight. But it was not easy for him.
“I understand that inactivity is the death of a warrior. At this point in my career, I want and want to be more active,” said Prograce. “I think this fight has fireworks written all over it. My opponent is a tough, tough and hungry fighter, and it should be a great night in California. I’m really excited about this fight and I’m looking forward to next month.”
