Regis Prograis has a homecoming first defence of his WBC super lightweight title this Saturday night at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, as he takes on Danielito Zorrilla.
DAZN televise live Prograis vs Zorrilla and Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing promote the card.
Liam Paro was due to be Prograis’ opponent, but the Aussie pulled out through an achilles injury.
Prograis (28-1, 24 KOs) came to prominence ahead of the World Boxing Super Series in 2018, and he became world champion in April 2019, when he stopped then-WBA ‘super’ champion Kyril Relikh in six rounds.
The 34-year-old’s sole defeat remains in the final of that tournament, as Josh Taylor took a razor-thin majority decision, and the Louisiana man has won four fights on the spin since.
‘Rougarou’ became a two-time world champion in his most recent outing, where he claimed the vacant WBC super lightweight crown with a superb eleventh round knockout of Jose Zepeda in November.
He will have one eye on the new landscape of the division after Teofimo Lopez’s stunning win against Taylor last week, but he will need to stay focused against Zorrilla (17-1, 13 KOs).
The 29-year-old suffered defeat for the first time in July last year, when Arnold Barboza Jr took a clear points win over ten, but ‘El Zorro’ returned with a one round win against Aristides Quintero in March.
Prediction: Prograis shouldn’t have too much difficulty with the challenge posed by the Puerto Rican, and he will be looking to move on to bigger things with a win here. He can score a stoppage in the championship rounds.
Giyasov clashes with Calderon
Chief support is a twelve rounder at welterweight, where 2016 Olympic Silver medallist, Shakhram Giyasov (13-0, 9 KOs) hopes to move a step closer to a world title shot, and he can take a points win against the unbeaten Harold Calderon (27-0, 18 KOs).
Ali faces Guzman
Ramla Ali (8-0, 2 KOs) defends her IBF Intercontinental super bantamweight title for the first time, and she should be able to take a points win over ten against Julissa Alejandra Guzman (12-2-2, 6 KOs).
Remaining Undercard
In eight round action, Aaron Aponte (7-0-1, 2 KOs) can halt Xavier Madrid (4-2, 2 KOs) at super lightweight, and at lightweight, Mark Davis (19-1, 5 KOs) can outscore Jeremy Hill (18-3, 11 KOs).
It’s fight week. Great start to the week with a night run with the champ @regisprograis through the great city of New Orleans. Come watch us do our thing Saturday night at the Smoothie King Center.
Get tickets by emailing me at ginnyfighttickets@gmail.com#boxing #nola #june17 pic.twitter.com/CawYEq0j09
— Ginny Fuchs (@GinnyFuchsUSA) June 13, 2023
Ginny Fuchs (2-0, 1 KOs) should stay unbeaten, and the super flyweight can take a win on the cards against Indeya Smith (6-7-2, 1 KO).
The sole four rounder is at lightweight, where Criztec Bazaldua (1-0) should come through on points against Elroy Fruto (1-1).
