Boxing
Josh Taylor outboxes Regis Prograis to unify junior welterweight titles, win World Boxing Super Series
Regis Prograis labeled himself the best junior welterweight in boxing.
Josh Taylor used the Ameircan's words against him Saturday night at the O2 Arena in London, defeating Prograis by majority decision (114-114, 117-112, 115-113) to unify the WBA title with the IBF belt and capture the Muhammad Ali trophy for winning the World Boxing Super Series.
“I believe you saw the best of Josh Taylor tonight," Taylor said in his post-fight interview. "That was a walk in the park tonight, wasn’t it. Easy fight, wasn’t it? What a fight. All respect to Regis Prograis on a great fight, but the best man won, and I knew I was going to win.”
In what was expected to be a back-and-forth affair between the two best fighters at 140 pounds, Taylor let Prograis know right away that he was the better of the two. The 28-year-old was the aggressor, landing the harder and crisper shots and didn't take a back seat by staying in the pocket for the majority of the 36 minutes of action. Taylor made it a point to land first and force Prograis to counter.
Prograis wasn't deterred and started going inside and pounding Taylor's body during the third round. But the tide shifted again in the middle of the fight as Taylor mixed it up by going to the body and then upstairs, including a hard right hook in the seventh round that bloodied Prograis' nose. Any time Prograis looked to get going, Taylor stuffed him in his tracks. When Prograis finally got going in the 11th round, it was too little, too late.
Even though he suffered the first loss of his career, Prograis (24-1, 20 KOs) was complimentary of Taylor's performance and hopes they meet again down the line.
“It was a close fight, but the better man won tonight, so it’s cool,” Prograis said. “I thought I caught up, I started timing him and moving my head but he won. I won’t make any excuses. I definitely enjoyed it. Hopefully we make part two.”
For Taylor, a win sets up a possible undisputed junior welterweight title fight with WBC and WBO champion Jose Ramirez in 2020. Ramirez is out with an injury and expects to face mandatory challenger Viktor Postol early next year.
