Jose Zepeda was as battle-tested as a world-class fighter may be by the point he stepped into the ring with Regis Prograis final Saturday (Nov. 26) in Carson, California.
The Southern Californian ran then-unbeaten Jose Ramirez shut in a bid for the WBC 140-pound title in 2019, dropping a majority choice within the defending beltholder’s house area whereas various observers thought he deserved the nod. Zepeda outboxed skillful two-division titleholder Jose Pedra over 10 rounds later that yr. He traded knockdowns with power-hitter Ivan Baranchyk within the 2020 Battle of the 12 months, which he gained by chilling fifth-round KO. He blasted younger New York Metropolis prospect Josue Vargas in a single spherical final yr.
Prograis had taken the battle out of Zepeda by Spherical 11. Picture by Tom Hogan
However nothing Zepeda had skilled in 13 years {of professional} boxing may put together him for the model of Prograis he encountered on the Dignity Well being Sports activities Park. Anybody who had forgotten that Prograis is an old-school two-fisted punisher within the spirit of Henry Armstrong and Aaron Pryor was reminded by the New Orleans native’s artful however relentless assault upon a recreation Zepeda, who was defiant till the battle was actually beat out of him by the eleventh spherical.
Prograis (28-1, 24 KOs), a 33-year-old southpaw like Zepeda, had bided his time vs. three second-tier fighters on numerous platforms and undercards since dropping a majority choice to Josh Taylor in a sensational Ring championship battle in 2019. However whereas bouncing round in business limbo, Prograis by no means took his eyes off the prize.
“No person believes in me greater than me,” he stated through the post-fight presser in Carson. “I didn’t lose my perception after the loss to Taylor. I by no means stopped coaching. I labored my ass off each single day for 3 years as a result of I needed to climb my means out of boxing hell.
“So, how I fought in opposition to Zepeda was not a shock to me.”
Taylor, who hasn’t fought in 2022, continues to be the Ring champ. However Prograis, who entered the Zepeda as Ring’s No. 1-rated junior welterweight, now holds the WBC title and is firmly again within the consciousness of hardcore followers in every single place. Oh, and he’s additionally The Ring’s Fighter of the Week!
RING RATINGS UPDATE (as November 26):
Heavyweight – Dillian Whyte stays at No. 5 following a hard-fought majority choice over unbeaten however unrated Jermaine Kirkland.
Tremendous middleweight – John Ryder stays at No. 3 after Zach Parker withdrew from their contender showdown with a hand harm. Parker, who suffered his first loss, drops to No. 8.
“Parker pulled himself out of the battle with Ryder on the finish of the fourth spherical with a hand harm,” famous Anson Wainwright. “Huge disgrace as this battle was taking form. Ryder to remain at No. 3, Parker has to drop, I’d say a spot or two.”
Junior middleweight – Charles Conwell advances to No. 9 with a hard-fought majority 10-round choice over unrated veteran Juan Carlos Abreu.
Wainwright advised that Conwell (18-0, 13 KOs) stay rated No. 10, however Adam Abramowitz disagreed.
“I might transfer Conwell forward of (Michel) Soro, who has been stopped just lately and lit up in his final ‘no-contest’ in opposition to Madrimov,” stated Abramowitz. “Conwell is on the ascendency.”
Junior welterweight – Prograis stays at No. 1. Zepeda drops to No. 5.
