Report- Prograis-Hooker April battle latest to be canceled

It’s becoming almost easier to keep track of the fights that are still on, as opposed to the ones that are being cancelled because of the COVID-19 scare and precautions. Sunday night the latest about to be taken off the schedule is the upcoming Matchroom Boxing April 17th show in Maryland, involving former American World Junior Welterweight Champions Regis Prograis and Maurice Hooker.

Boxingscene.com reporter Manouk Akopyan had the story:

Regis Prograis-Maurice Hooker 4/17 Clash Cancelled Due To Coronavirus https://t.co/h9J3Xt4Mtk pic.twitter.com/QhH0AVJEJO

— BoxingScene.com (@boxingscene) March 16, 2020

As the site reported it became obvious that this fight, and many others scheduled for the next two months, are going to be postponed or cancelled altogether when the Center for Disease Control (CDC) made their recommendation Sunday evening that there be no more gatherings 50 people or more out of caution in containing the Coronavirus.

Plus, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan announced Sunday that all of the states casinos, which includes the MGM National Harbor where Prograis-Hooker was to be held, will be closing indefinitely the short term.

Boxingscene further reported that Matchroom and promoter Eddie Hearn are trying to find another location for Prograis vs. Hooker. However, it would be unlikely that that could happen in the United States, and certainly not by April 17th.

Both men come into the bout on the back of starring roles in two of 2019’s fight of the year contenders. Prograis (24-1 20 KOs) travelled to London in October to take on Josh Taylor in a 140 lb. unification clash and the final of the World Boxing Super Series, with Scotsman Taylor edging 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.

In July, Hooker (27-1-3 18 KOs) fought José Ramírez in a unification bout for the other two 140 lb. titles in Dallas, and the pair served up a back-and-forth shootout that Ramirez won via stoppage in the sixth round of a breathless contest.

And, that fight handed Hooker his first loss and took his WBO belt.

So, both fighters obviously have incentive to get back in the ring and put themselves in position for rematch with Taylor and Ramirez, respectively.

But now, like most of American sports for the next two months, we must wait.