Regis Prograis about to be promotional free agent

Frustration has been a constant for former WBA Junior Welterweight champion, Regis Prograis during the Covid 19 pandemic and now, he’s apparently decided to part ways with his promoter.

Lou DiBella of DiBella Entertainment, confirmed on social media Monday that he and the 24-1 former champ, are in the process a professionally divorcing. So, that Prograis can go with another promotion and secure his fighting future:

Every positive thing I ever said about Regis, I still believe. We had a real good run together and I look forward to watching him do big things in the future. We always have been, and always will be, cool.

— Lou DiBella (@loudibella) August 11, 2020

The 31-year old Prograis was last in the ring in October, when he travelled to London to take on Josh Taylor in a 140 lb. unification clash and the final of the World Boxing Super Series.The Scotsman Taylor edged out ‘Rougarou’ via Majority Decision in an all-out war. It handed Prograis the first loss of his career and took his WBA Jr. Welterweight title that he had won in the previous fight of the tournament.

After that defeat, Prograis and Dibella had entered into an agreement with Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Boxing for 140 lb., for a non-title eliminator showdown with former WBC champion, Maurice Hooker. However, the Covid-19 shutdown of the sport scuttled their fight for April and now, Hooker is apparently unable to come close to making the 140 lb Jr. Welterweight limit.

So, that rescheduled fight is off and has Porgrais disgruntled, looking to re-emerge against someone else and potentially, get back in title contention. This could either be in a rematch situation with Taylor or potentially, a fight against the WBC/WBO Champion, Jose Luis Ramirez.

Ramirez defeated Hooker by 6th round TKO in July of 2019.

It is also believed that Hearn, who controls both Taylor and Ramirez promotionally, wants a Unification fight between them to happen later this year or early 2021.

DiBella has been with Prograis for his rise into prominence that included the Louisianan winning the WBA 140 lb. title in the semifinals of the World Boxing Super Series in April of 2019. It’s believed that they had only one fight remaining on their agreement.

And, DiBella only has a few fighters under his promotion and most importantly, does not have a television partnership like larger PBC does with Showtime and Fox, like Top Rank Boxing does with ESPN and DAZN streaming with Golden Boy Promotions in the United States.

Hearn also has a Matchroom streaming agreement with DAZN for his fight cards in America.

Back to Prograis, it’s likely that he will end up with Premier Boxing Champions, as they have he most prominent fighters in the lucrative 147 lb. Welterweight division and could very quickly be involved in an important fight with one of their stars, if he wants to move up in weight.

Then again, Prograis may do a deal with Hearn and Matchroom to secure the Taylor rematch or await the winner of the potential Taylor-Ramirez 140 lb. clash.