Regal Regis

Prograis hammers Relikh to clinch WBSS finals place, writes Jack Hirsch

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ET’S make a toast to the World Boxing Super Series. It has seen champions in the various weight classes unify titles, raised the profile of the fighters, and given us stellar matchups with perhaps the best yet to come.

Now we wait to see if Josh Taylor can take care of business against Ivan Baranchyk in Glasgow on May 18 in the semi-final of the super-lightweight tournament. If he does, we’ll then be treated to one of the greatest pairings in the history of the division in which he would face off with fellow unbeaten southpaw Regis Prograis.

Prograis punched his ticket to the finals while at the same time defending his WBC title and snatching the WBA version of Kiryl Relikh via stoppage at 1-36 of the sixth round in a 12.

Make no mistake about it, Prograis is a stellar talent who will be hard to derail. Such is his level of confidence that for some time now he has harboured a desire to box Terence Crawford, not being as impressed as others with the pound-for pound claimant. But first there is the little matter of bringing home the Muhammad Ali Trophy which is given to the winner of the tournament.

Prograis felt a degree of pressure going into his match with Relikh, knowing that winning was not enough. Now Houstonbased, Prograis is originally from New Orleans and still considers it home. He wanted to entertain the fans at Louisiana’s Cajun Dome (Sauerland Event promoted), by giving them a display they could rave about. It is safe to say he did not disappoint.