WBC junior welterweight champion Regis ‘Rougarou’ Prograis 29-1 (24) believes the unblemished record of former undisputed lightweight champion Devin ‘The Dream’ Haney 30-0 (15) is not all it seems to be.
The 34-year-old Prograis and Haney, 10 years his junior, are due to clash at the Chase Center in San Francisco, California on December 9. A press conference to officially announce the fight will be held tonight.
Southpaw Prograis has already got the smack talk started by accusing Haney of falsifying his boxing record.
“So I’m hearing Devin lost a fight in Mexico earlier in his career but he paid to take it off his record. IF that’s true that’s the weakest shit I ever heard so far in boxing,” Prograis posted to social media.
“Press conference is Tuesday and y’all reporters better not let this shit slide.”
Haney started his career in Mexico fighting on club shows away from the bright lights and TV camera as he honed his craft.
He believes the rumour of a missing loss on his ledger was started by Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero 15-1 (13).
“Only a dumbass would believe some shit like that… this info is coming from Rolly that should tell you enough,” Haney responded on social media.
Haney unified the WBC lightweight title by travelling to Australia to defeat WBA, WBO and IBF champion George ‘Ferocious’ Kambosos Jr 21-2 (10) by unanimous decision in June last year. He returned Down Under to repeat the treatment four months later before besting former three-weight world champion Vasiliy Lomachenko 17-3 (11) on points in May.
With his decision to test the waters at 140-pounds, the WBC has designated Haney champion-in-recess at lightweight. He still retains the WBA, WBO and IBF titles at 135-pounds but if he defeats Prograis he will likely remain in the junior welterweight division.
Prograis, who had an off night in his last fight against Danielito Zorrilla in June that he won by split decision, is adamant that he will have Haney’s measure and will drive him out of the division.
“I will not only beat him, but I will beat him up. I will hurt this kid,” said Prograis. “There’s nothing he can do that’s going to stop me from dominating. It’s going to be a massacre. Again, I will hurt him.”
Retired former four-weight world titleholder Mikey Garcia is urging fans not to underestimate Prograis in this matchup.
“I think it [Haney vs Prograis] is a much better fight than people think. A lot of people are counting out Regis – I think he has a very good chance!” Garcia said to ESNews.
“He’s strong, dangerous and Haney hasn’t shown the best chin at times. He doesn’t have the power either to keep Regis off, but he does have the boxing skills. So if he keeps it at distance, jabbing and circling around, then I could see him winning a decision.
“But everything could change with one punch. Regis has that power, he’s dangerous. He hits hard, you can see that his opponents feel the power.”
