Regis Prograis Happy With Matchroom Multi-Fight Deal

In addition to Canelo Alvarez scoring the most significant win of the weekend in the Mexico ring this past Saturday, Matchroom Boxing made news just outside of it. This, as they announced that they’ve signed WBC 140 lb. title holder Regis Prograis to a multi-fight deal.

Prograis and Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn appeared jointly and were all smiles on the DAZN broadcast just prior to Canelo Alvarez’s one sided decision win over John Ryder,

Welcome to the team the number one 140lber in the World @RPrograis – straight out the gate June 17 in New Orleans! @DAZNBoxing 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/6aPvOanqLi

— Eddie Hearn (@EddieHearn) May 7, 2023

“Over the last few weeks, I’ve been contemplating which move I should make next,” Prograis said to DAZN’s Chris Mannix. “I had a lot of good offers on the table. But I feel like Matchroom is the best for me. I just feel like it’s the right fit. From the beginning I had that gut feeling and it never left. I can’t wait to start this chapter in my career.”

“We got the No. 1 star in the 140-pound division, the WBC king, and June 17 we take him straight home for a big party and a huge night,” Hearn said during an interview on the Canelo-Ryder pay-per-view broadcast. “This man is the man to beat in the 140-pound division. Massive, massive signing for us. He’s one of our top fighters. We’re gonna make him a huge star.”

Prograis will be in the ring next month

Prograis, 28-1, 24 KOs, will waste no time and make his first WBC defense against unbeaten Australian Liam Paro on June 17 at the Smoothie King Center in Prograis’ hometown of New Orleans. The bout will headline a card on DAZN.

Hear Dan Rafael with more insight on why Regis Prograis is making the move to Matchroom/DAZN on our latest “Fight Freaks Unite Recap” podcast by clicking below,

Rafael reported on his substack Sunday that the deal is for three fights with base purses of: $1.25 million for the first fight, $1.5 million for the second and $1.75 for the third, although they could rise for the second and third bouts depending on the level of opponent.

The 34 year old Prograis regained a portion of the junior welterweight world titles, when he won the vacant WBC 140-pound belt by 11th round KO of Jose Zepeda on Nov. 26.

Rafael further reported that Prograis drew serious interest from Top Rank Boxing, which has the WBO/lineal champion Josh Taylor, as well as former unified lightweight champion Teofimo Lopez, former unified junior welterweight title holder Jose Ramirez and unbeaten contender Arnold Barboza.

Taylor and Lopez are headlining for Top Rank/ESPN next month in NYC.

Prograis lost his WBA 140 lb. world title belt in his first defense by majority decision to Taylor in the finale of the World Boxing Super Series in October of 2019. However, since that defeat, he’s won four in a row and all by knockout. Taylor vacated the WBC belt Prograis now has, last Summer.

Paro is 23-0, 14 KOs, and is coming off his most impressive victory, a first-round knockout of countryman Brock Jarvis in October in his first fight with Matchroom.