Zepeda vs Prograis fight preview
By James Blears
What happens when you're stuck between a rock and a hard place? Jose “Chon” Zepeda (35-2, 27KO) and Regis “Rougarou” Prograis (27-1, 23KO) will find out on Saturday, November 26th, when they contest the vacant World Boxing Council super-lightweight title at the Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California.
Both are proven hard hitters. Each tempered by the mettle of iron willpower, yet something will have to bend and someone will prove malleable in the furnace of battle. I'm predicting this has all the ingredients and simmering capacity to boil up into a Fight of the Year contender.
Regis, with an 85% stoppage ratio, is originally from New Orleans, but now based out of Houston (following Hurricane Katrina), has stayed in the weight division for three long years, waiting for this second chance.
After an impecunious start, during which he got paid just one dollar for his fourth fight, things quickly bucked up for Regis, who is a student of boxing. He won the WBA belt with a sixth round TKO of Kiryl Relikh in the semi-final of season two of the World Boxing Super Series. But then he encountered Scotland's 'Tartan Tornado' Josh Taylor in the final. Jos, who was IBF champion, was masterful, boxing beautifully.
Regis fought with a grim determination which characterizes him and applied severe pressure throughout, especially in the championship rounds. It was an absolute thriller, with the taller Scot winning a majority decision. One Judge saw it as a 114-114 draw. Since then, Regis has stopped all three of his opponents and stands ready to give it his all to become a WBC Champion.
%During their press conferences on the pre-fight tour, he and Jose, who has a 77% KO ratio, have shown mutual respect, befitting their ranking. Jose is classified number one by the WBC and Regis number two. Jose says he`s fully prepared to go to the gates of hell to win this fight.
He`s already been there, in that epic precipice knock about, knock down fight with Ivan Baranchyk. They exchanged four knockdowns each in five rounds. Jose went down twice in the first round. But he finished it off with a blockbuster left hook which knocked Ivan unconscious for quite some time. Regis points out that he`s never been knocked down during his pro career and stresses that when he drops people they stay put on the canvass.
Regis is a more effervescent outgoing character who exudes self- confidence, while Jose is somewhat reserved with a shy smile and more placid geniality…outside the ring! Both have shown appropriate courtesy and civility throughout their press tour. A quality fight like this is so much better minus the yap bile of trash talk. Just, no need. Both are southpaws, five feet eight inches tall and thirty three years old and LA based Julian Chua is their trainer. To avoid to being torn between them, he`s wisely stepping back for this fight, wishing each of them good luck.
This is Jose`s third tilt at the super-lightweight title. He fought “Turbo” Terry Flanagan for the vacant WBO title, but dislocated his left shoulder and had to retire on his stool after the second round, with the bone protruding in an alarming manner.
His second chance was against then WBC champion Jose Ramirez. What a fight it was! Chon boxed superbly for the first half, with Jose`s strength and power becoming a decisive tactical factor in the later rounds. Multiple accidental head clashes left both gashed and bleeding. Ramirez won a MD 115-113, 116-112 and the other Judge saw it as a 114-114 draw. In this ring war, Chon lowered his right lead as he tired and used his anticipation rather than defense, trying to avoid incoming. This could prove an extremely risky, unadvisable and dangerous tactic against Regis.
Since then, one no contest and five victories with two KO`s including the ordeal against Ivan Baranchyk and the most recent one round demolition of Josue Vargas.
Regis is a barrel chested, robust super-lightweight who`s big for the division, while Jose is slimmer, more svelte and noticeably leaner. This is going to an outright war of lefties.
Regis` nickname is Rougarou which in Creole means werewolf. In the legend of folk tales, only a silver bullet can stop a werewolf. Certain… he`s aware that Chon, which means stable, calm and self- disciplined, comes into this fight as the WBC Silver champion.
As the Poet Dylan Thomas wrote: “Rage, rage against the dying of the light. Do not go gentle into that good night.”
JOE ZEPEDA (US/MEXICO)
WBC #1
DOB: May 24, 1989
POB: Long Beach, California
Residence: La Puente, California
Age: 33
Alias: Chon
Record: 35-2-0, 27KO
KO Ratio: 69.3%
Guard: Southpaw
Rounds: 157
World Title Bouts: 2 (0-2-0)
Trainer: Rene Zepeda
Manager: Fernando Beltran
Promoter: Promociones Zanfer
REGIS PROGRAIS (US)
WBC #2
DOB: January 24, 1989
POB: New Orleans, LA
Residence: Houston, TX
Age: 33
Alias: Rougarou
Record: 27-1-0, 23 KO
KO Ratio: 82.2%
Guard: Southpaw
Rounds: 125
World Title Bouts: 5 (4-1-0)
Trainer: Hylon Williams Sr.
Manager: Richard Schaefer
Promoter: Probellum
WBC's Top 10 Super-Lightweight Champions
1. JULIO CESAR CHAVEZ (MEX)
2. OSCAR DE LA HOYA (US/MEX)
3. KOSTYA TSZYU (RUS/AUST)
4. ROGER MAYWEATHER (US)
5. TIMOTHY BRADLEY (US)
6. BRUNO ARCARI (ITALY)
7. ARTURO GATTI (CANADA)
8. DANNY GARCIA (US)
9. DEVON ALEXANDER (US)
10. SAENSAK MUANGSURIN (THAI)