Regis “Rougarou” Prograis vs Devin “The Dream” Haney
By James Blears
WBC super lightweight champion Regis “Rougarou” Prograis (29-1, 24KO) defends his Green and Gold Belt on December 9th at the Chase Center, San Francisco, against Devin “The Dream” Haney (30-0, 16KO), who has conquered all at one hundred and thirty-five pounds, and now seeks fresh glory in the one up heavier division.
It’s a long-awaited homecoming for Devin, who is returning to his Bay Area origins. As his dad and Coach Bill said: “It’s surreal to finally get a chance to come back to where the dream started.”
Devin now lives in Henderson, Nevada but was born in San Francisco and raised in Oakland, before he and his father moved to Las Vegas to advance his career and fulfill his tremendous potential.
He himself said: “It’s been a dream of mine to fight in my hometown and I’m excited for the opportunity to become a two division champion in the city where it all started. The energy is going to be electric.”
Standing directly in his way, is heavy handed, left-handed champion Regis “Rougarou” Prograis, who has a fearsome 82.76 per cent KO record. Aged 34, Regis is nine years older than Devin, who started young in the pro ranks, fighting in Mexico before he was old enough to gain and obtain a license in the USA. The vitality of youth is on Devin’s side. But on the other hand, Regis fully realizes and appreciates that he can’t afford a slip up defeat at this stage of his career.
His only loss came via the narrowest of margins with an MD to Josh Taylor who took his WBC Diamond and WBA Belts in the epic final of the WBSS Season Two Final. Regis had to wait three long years and defeat three opponents to gain the opportunity to fight and KO Jose “Chon” Zepeda in round 11 to win the WBC belt.
Regis has made his intentions plain saying: “I can’t wait to put on a show. I’ll be more than ready to do what I do best. I think he’s going to be surprised by my skill. It’s not going to be skill vs power. It’s going to be skill vs skill and I have the power too. I will not only beat him, but I’ll beat him up. It’s going to be a massacre.”
Regis’ Coach Bobby Benton said: “Regis will get to show his skills and Ring IQ against Devin Haney.”
Undefeated Devin replied: “Regis is going to be trying to knock me out and that’s exactly what I need him to be trying to do. I’ll show him that I’m on a different level and that I’m the best.”
Devin wiil be drawing upon his prodigious skillset including his speed, agility, accuracy, and ring generalship. Regis holds his guard low, relying on his ability to judge range and slip punches. Devin will try to pierce this over the top, with volleys of jabs. Regis possesses one-punch stopping power, especially with his vaunted left hook, so that danger is ever present.
Haney is the undisputed lightweight champion in recess. He went over to Australia to defeat rugged George Kambosos Jr and then returned to repeat the feat even more convincingly. It’s almost certain he’s already outgrown this division and hinted at it by saying: “I’m going to dominate Regis and then the welterweight division will be put on notice.”
Devin has already been tested under fire. He dominated former champion Jorge Linares but got buzzed by a big right at the end of the 10th and he visibly wobbled as he went back to his corner after the bell rang. He didn’t repeat that mistake in the two remaining rounds.
In his most recent fight against Vasiliy Lomachenko. a battle royale of skill, speed and intense willpower, which he won by UD, but not without controversy as most spectators had the Ukrainian winning that fight. Now, straight into the fray at super lightweight. No gradual introduction nor cautious warm up fight: “It was hard for me to make 135 pounds. I feel that it’s the right time for me to move up.”
Devin stresses that he was seeking this fight prior to Regis’ first title defense. In a New Orleans homecoming, Regis dropped Danielito Zorilla in the third, but then made heavy weather of it, trying to catch up with an increasingly elusive opponent, nevertheless winning via SD.
The Chase Center is the home arena of the NBA’s Golden State Warriors, and local hero Devin really wants to impress on home turf. While Regis, who’s originally from way down yonder in New Orleans, is determined to be cagey Cajun style.
The winner will bask in Golden Gate aurora. The other in the melody of Tony Bennett, will be left almost bereft with the memory of: “I left my heart in San Francisco. High on a hill, it calls to me.”
Tale of the Tape
REGIS “Rougarou” PROGRAIS
WBC Super Lightweight World Champion, 2nd Title Defense
Age: 34
DOB: January 24, 1989
Residence: Houston, Texas
Birthplace: New Orleans, Louisiana
Record: 29-1, 24 KOs
Total rounds: 148
World Championship fights: 3-1, 2KO
Height: 5’8” – 173 cm
Reach: 67” – 170cm
Stance: Left-handed
Manager: Sam Katkovski
Trainer: Bobby Benton
DEVIN “The Dream” HANEY
WBC Lightweight World Champion in Recess / 7 Title Defenses
Age: 25
DOB: November 17, 1998
Residence: Las Vegas, Nevada
Birthplace: San Francisco, California
Record: 30-0, 15 KOs
Total rounds: 198
World championship fights: 7-0, 0 KOs
Height: 5’9″ – 175cm
Reach: 72″ – 183cm
Stance: Right-handed
Advisor-trainer: Bill Haney
Top 10 WBC Super-lightweight Champions
1. Julio Cesar Chavez (Mex)
2. Oscar de la Hoya (US/Mex)
3. Kostya Tszyu (Aust)
4. Roger Mayweather (US)
5. Timothy Bradley (US)
6. Bruno Arcari (Italy)
7. Arturo Gatti (Canada)
8. Danny Garcia (US)
9. Devon Alexander (US)
10. Saensak Muangsurin (Thai)
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