Devin Haney defeated Regis Prograis to capture the WBC 140-pound title on Saturday, proving his elite status.
He became world champion at a second weight after 12 dominant rounds at the Chase Centre in San Francisco. Three 120–107 wins were assured.
Current champion Prograis, 34, was expected to win, but he astonished everyone by outboxing him with such conviction that he ended Ring/WBO champion Teofimo Lopez’s undefeated streak.
He made an experienced opponent look flat when he first faced off at 140 pounds, showing how much being the lightest weight limit would have hurt him.
Haney’s most deadly performance was with the five pounds of weight. His May win over Vasiliy Lomachenko was controversial. He defeated Prograis in the third round and won every round as the stronger fighter.
In June, Prograis defeated Danielito Zorrilla with more conviction, although Haney, 25, continuously chastised him. Haney controlled the distance and tempo of their fights with time and accuracy, scoring with counters and jabs.
Prograis was bruised in the second round and had swelling around his right eye in the first. Haney, often criticised for his weakness, stopped the champion in the third round with a clean right hand. Prograis instantly stood up and nodded to appreciate his opponent’s victory, but when he missed a punch again and Haney laughed, it was clear they both knew Prograis was much better.
The Ring’s No. 2 junior welterweight, Prograis, was nearly defeated in the sixth round after a left-right combination bent his knees and forced him back. Haney saw that Prograis was bleeding badly from his nose bridge and showed patience by not protesting the knockdown.
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Prograis heroically battled on as usual at the end of the eighth round, defying Bobby Benton, his famed trainer, who may have been inclined to stop to spare him more suffering.
After the 10th, Haney knew he would lose by that much but kept his cool in front of 17,000 fans. The patient, seasoned, and improving new champion won every round after the final bell, making boxing scorecards look reasonable.
After the match, he and his father, trainer, and manager Bill discussed competing at welterweight, which may have been telling. They also discussed seeking fortune in Saudi Arabia, where he may fight DAZN affiliate Ryan Garcia and win his largest career prize.
The former lightweight champion remarked, “Now I am able to go in there and be the real Devin Haney,” about weight increase.
“I was going all out in the gym, lifting the maximum weight of 135 pounds.” Just an example of my perfection. I want power, quickness, and a bout at 147, despite many key fights at 140.
One strategy was handicapping [Prograis]. The bread and butter we took was in his left hand.
He remarked I was fast and nimble after the fight. Replied, “Thank you for the chance and the shot.”
Bill, the master cheerleader, implied that his son had outperformed Terence Crawford in the biggest fight of the year because Errol Spence struggled to reach 147 pounds. Bill is essential to Haney family events.
However, Bill Haney suggested decreasing to 147 pounds: “We are looking at legacy; so many people are tarnishing the sport by saying ‘Belts don’t matter.'” Shakur Stevenson and Gervonta “Tank” Davis must be mentioned briefly. Haney Jr.’s “I should be fighter of the year” showed how much people respect reputation.
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“Saudi Arabia and here [the Bay Area] are the two places I want to fight,” he remarked, knowing he was criticised during his Las Vegas fight with Lomachenko.
To his credit, Prograis bravely defied the recent tradition of beaten opponents not attending post-fight press conferences. He eloquently expressed his ambition to stay at 140 pounds and win three world titles.
“I’m not giving up,” he claimed, claiming Haney is better than Josh Taylor, his previous opponent. I want to win the global championship three times.
No doubt, Hayes was faster and better than expected.
Four months of training wasn’t enough. I’m starting over to improve.
This looked strange. I need to improve my footwork. I couldn’t reach him. Try strengthening my gait in the gym again.
I never got hurt in the war. Insecurity never plagued me.
Liam Paro, who stopped Montana Love in 109 seconds in their sixth-round encounter, may face Prograis. Zorrilla replaced Paro, who retired with an Achilles injury, before facing Prograis. Just when Love was outworking him, a left uppercut to the jaw knocked him down, and another left hand did it again. Referee Thomas Taylor intervened when Love stood up and struggled to defend himself.
Andy Cruz overcame 30-year-old Jovanni Straffon in three rounds with remarkable technique. With a strong first round, the second round should have ended it. His Mexican opponent received numerous straight rights and right uppercuts despite his determination to stay upright. Referee Edward Collantes, or his corner, should have helped him. Instead, they mistakenly let him fight into the third, where Collantes intervened since 53 seconds meant further punishment.
Miyo Yoshida defeated Ebanie Bridges to win the IBF bantamweight title. She didn’t deserve her exquisite opponent’s 91-99, 97-93, and 99-91 scores.
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