Promoter Kalle Sauerland has described the world unification battle between Regis Prograis and Josh Taylor as the “caviar of boxing” and is expecting a fight of the year contender.
WBA titlist Prograis (24-0, 20 KOs) and IBF champion Taylor (15-0, 12 KOs) will lock horns in Saturday’s much-anticipated World Boxing Super Series final at the O2 Arena live on Sky Sports Box Office and DAZN in the US.
The coveted Muhammad Ali trophy will also be up for grabs in London and Sauerland, the Chief Boxing Officer of the World Boxing Super Series is expecting a thrilling battle.
“There is an incredible vibe around this fight. From the fans and from the camps,” Sauerland explained.
“I think both Prograis and Taylor are desperately trying to get that upper hand mentally which I’m sure will build up to a very intense face-to-face at the weigh-in.
“The fans are getting two undefeated world champions who have fought their way through other world champions to fight for the Ali Trophy.
“So it’s truly the best versus best – Prograis-Taylor is the caviar of boxing.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/B3fKwwkjZPM/
Taylor, trained by Shane McGuigan, claimed the IBF title after beating Ivan Baranchyk in Glasgow in May, whilst Prograis will also make the first defence of his WBA belt following his victory over Kiryl Relikh.
And Sauerland is not expecting any style clash between the undefeated pair.
“It’s a 50-50 fight between the number one and two in the division. It’s one of those fights that’s got ‘Fight of the Year” written all over it.
“It’s gonna be fireworks that’s for sure. But who and how he’s gonna win is impossible to say, it is that close.
“They are both punchers and huge personalities but there are differences.
“Josh is a fighter who likes to stand up and fight and go for someone whereas Prograis so far in the tournament has picked his shots from the outside jumping in and out and he’s very slick at doing that.”
The English fans love me 🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/TXBTrFlYy4
— Rougarou (@RPrograis) October 19, 2019
Prograis has finished up the last part of his camp in London and was in attendance at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday as Spurs played out a draw with Watford.
On the undercard, Dereck Chisora faces an in-form David Price in a high stakes heavyweight clash.
Lawrence Okolie fights for the European title against tough Frenchman Yves Ngabu.
Meanwhile, former world champion Ricky Burns faces another former world title holder in domestic rival Lee Selby.
WBSS Season 2 Finals:
Super-Lightweights
- Regis Prograis vs Josh Taylor – 26 October, The O2, London, UK
Bantamweights
- Naoya Inoue vs Nonito Donaire – 7 November, Saitama Super Arena, Saitama, Japan
Cruiserweights
- Mairis Briedis vs Yunier Dorticos – 14 Dec, Arēna Rīga, Riga, Latvia
