REGIS Prograis says fighting regularly is his priority after signing with Matchroom but has big plans for the future.
‘Rougarou’ put pen to paper on a deal with Eddie Hearn which was announced last Saturday when both men were in Mexico to watch Canelo Alvarez face John Ryder.
Prograis 28-1 (24) had a more lucrative offer from Top Rank but decided to go with his gut feeling and join Hearn and his Matchroom team.
“At my stage of my career I feel like I couldn’t make a wrong move,” he told Matchroom media.
“I talked to other people, but it was still in my gut [that] I felt like this was the right decision and it never left.”
The 34-year-old returns on June 17 when he defends his world title against Australia’s Liam Paro who signed with Hearn at the end of 2021.
“Fighting in New Orleans at the Smoothie King [Centre], that’s a homecoming for me. This is something I dreamed of,” said Prograis.
Paro is undefeated in 23 fights and thumped his compatriot Brock Jarvis in one round last time out and will be fighting away from Australia for the second time in his career when he travels to New Orleans.
“I’ve watched him fight a few times,” the champion said.
“I feel like I’m the best in the world at 140 and for me just keep proving it. Now I have a target on my back so everyone fighting me is going to come out and have the best night of their life. I know he’s undefeated, he’s dangerous so I have to be 100 per cent ready all the time.”
There are a growing number of potential fights for Prograis particularly with a crew of all-stars from lightweight planning to go to 140lbs. Jose Ramirez and a rematch with Josh Taylor as well as fights against his new stablemates Jack Catterall, Montana Love and Richardson Hitchins are all options for Prograis.
“Right now, I’ll defend my belt a few times, get some big fights and then after that I feel like I’ll go ahead and sweep up the division.”
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