Regis Prograis: Focus on Danielito Zorrilla with big fights on horizon
Regis Prograis believes he’s the best 140-pounder in the world.
And he can make a strong case by dominating and then stopping Jose Zepeda in 11 rounds this past November to regain a world title after losing one in a close fight with Josh Taylor in 2019.
Of course, he isn’t going to build on his momentum against obscure and unranked Danielito Zorrilla of Puerto Rico, his opponent Saturday in Prograis’ hometown of New Orleans (DAZN).
The big opportunities are around the corner, however. Fellow beltholder Teofimo Lopez is an ideal opponent for Prograis (28-1, 24 KOs) but there are several other compelling matchups out there.
Danielito Zorrilla (right) is a significant underdog against Regis Prograis. Ed Mulholland / Matchroom.
That’s assuming he can get past Zorrilla (17-1, 13 KOs). Prograis said he respects all of his opponents: “People do pull off upsets.”
“It’s not hard to focus because when you fight someone that people say is lesser than you, those are the dangerous fights and the hard ones [because] you don’t know what they’ve got, and you need to perform against them,” he said.
“… I’m not looking past him. You have in your mind that there’s massive fights out there, but I know that I won’t get to them unless I take care of my business on Saturday. So, until then, I don’t think about anyone else.”
Well, that’s not entirely true. How could he not think about the big fights that could lie ahead?
Lopez made a huge statement by outpointing previously unbeaten Josh Taylor to win his belt on June 10. And the other major titleholders, Subriel Matias and Rolando Romero, are respected.
“Yes, Teo has done his thing against Josh,” he said. “… I still feel that I am the best at 140 pounds, but Teo deserves his credit, and I give that to him. So I must go out and look great and prove I am the best, and then we can get that fight so there will be no doubt.
“You can’t control what people think. Some may say I’m the best, some will now say Teo, Subriel Matias, some might even say Rolly. I still feel I’m the best; you put me in with Rolly, I beat him. Put me in with Teo, I beat him. Put me in with Matias, I beat him.
“We can’t prove that until we fight, but that’s how I feel, and the only way to prove it is to fight each other.”
Yes, there are a number of intriguing possibilities if Prograis has his hand raised on Saturday.