Interviews
Regis Prograis recalls the drama of Ivan Redkach, Thriller and Jake Paul
In a night that featured Jake Paul fighting a retired MMA fighter in Ben Askren, Snoop Dogg on commentary, and the debut of another former UFC fighter and Colombian reggaeton artist, it was surprisingly the Regis Prograis vs. Ivan Redkach clash that produced the most drama on a dramatic night in Atlanta last Saturday.
The fight between the former 140-pound champion Progress and experienced fighter Redkach was a fight on the card that was liked by die-hard boxing fans, but ended in bizarre circumstances.
“Rougarou” dominated the proceedings and after hitting the Ukrainian in the head with his left hand, Prograis fired a body shot that sent the 35-year-old to the canvas, claiming he was hit with a low blow.
Referee Jim Korb ruled that the shot was clearly above the belt line and that the low arc gave the American a technical decision victory, with “El Terrible” removed from the ring after receiving medical attention.
Understandably, a furious Prograis vented his post-fight frustration, but he got justice on Monday when the Georgia Sports and Entertainment Commission overturned the referee’s decision, giving him a sixth-round TKO victory, his second stoppage victory since his only loss to Josh Taylor by majority decision of October 2019
Reflecting on the fight, the 32-year-old believes his opponent was looking for a way out of the fight, but was pleased to have the decision overturned.
“In the last two rounds I started hitting him tough and catching him,” Prograis said proboxing-fans.com.
“I just think he wanted a way out, that’s the most significant thing. I just think he wanted to get out, he didn’t want to fight anymore and he was faking it.
“He would have won a massive Oscar for this because he was a good faker!
“He definitely wasn’t low. Even when I hit him, I knew it wasn’t low. I really never low blow anyone, even if I’m fighting an orthodox fighter or a southpaw fighter.
I just want to thank everyone who joined the fight on Saturday. It was a weird ending, but overall it was a good experience. Who do you want to see me fight next? @triller #ThrillerFightClub #rougarou 👊🏽🥊#wolfpack 🐺 pic.twitter.com/I92XNJ49UZ
— Rougarou (@RProgais) April 20, 2021
“Of course anyone can make mistakes, but I just don’t and I knew it didn’t hit him, I knew it was bullshit.”
“It was the most significant thing I wanted [the decision changing to a TKO]”
Prograis revealed that Redkach and his wife offered an apology, although the trio did not communicate in person after the fight.
This was Triller’s second gala since their inaugural exhibition between Mike Tyson and Roy Jones Jr in November, which featured performances by Diplo, The Black Keys and Saweetie, and was won by 44-year-old former cruiserweight world champion Steve Cunningham, who came retires to defeat former UFC heavyweight Frank Mir.
During the unique and unconventional broadcast, which was met with mixed reactions online, Oscar De La Hoya made a surprise appearance and later apologized for making some bizarre comments, and Prograis stated that at times he felt the event was a bit over the top.
“I think it was too much, I won’t lie. They could do it, but not by much.
“I had to be at the arena at 6 p.m. and then I didn’t start walking [to the ring] until 11:40 p.m. or so, so I literally sit in the locker room for almost six hours, waiting and waiting and waiting.
“We saw all these bands, all these performers doing all this stuff and it was pretty loose.
“Another thing people don’t know is that Ivan’s wife kept coming into our dressing room and offering us things.
“She offered us sandwiches, food, bananas and coffee!
“She was really nice. I think this was her first time being involved in something like this and I think she worked as his assistant or something.
“But she would come and offer us things. She replied, “Yes, you know, they say you keep your friends close and your enemies closer.”
“She was joking, she really enjoyed it, but it was just a different kind of experience.”
Prograis’ fight was followed by Justin Bieber’s performance, before Jake Paul stopped Ben Askren in the first round, securing his third professional victory.
Paul, who has amassed more than 20 million subscribers on YouTube, has faced widespread criticism in the boxing community, raising eyebrows during his fight week press conference when he described himself as an “elite boxer” even though his other two victories were against another sensation website at AnEsonGib in his debut before stopping former NBA star Nate Robinson.
However, the “Problem Child” with whom there is a future clash Tommy Fury attracts huge attention and fresh audiences to sports, claims on his YouTube channel that the fight generated over 1.5 million pay-per-view buys, and Prograis, who has named Adrien Broner as a potential opponent for his next fight, believes that the 24-year-old will benefit from knowing that he is having a positive impact on the sport that brings
“Even before the fight, that’s why I agreed to be on the card, because they asked: ‘Do you want to fight further?’ [the] Jake Paul [undercard]?
“Of course I will fight, he brings a different perspective to the sport. If I’m not mistaken they said the pay-per-view numbers are crazy, they’re massive numbers right now and I don’t even think they’ve tallied them all yet.
“My opinion of him hasn’t changed at all. He brings a different perspective to the sport and hey, if they can do it through a boxing match, let them do it.”
Watch the full interview below, in which Prograis reflects on his fight with Redkach, and read what he had to say about his future on our Youtube channel.
Eddie Hearn believes Tyson Fury will retire after a legacy-defining clash with Anthony Joshua.
Fury stunned the boxing world on Monday when he announced his retirement from the sport, leaving behind a megafight with Joshua.
The “Gypsy King” announced his shocking decision less than a month after suffering, among other things, second defeat in a row against Oleksandr Usyk in Riyad, but Joshua’s promoter, Hearn, is convinced that the fighter from Morecambe will return to the ring to fight the long-awaited showdown with “AJ”, who is returning after a fifth-round defeat to Daniel Dubois.
“In my opinion, I think he will come back,” the 45-year-old said talkSPORT.
“But I don’t know him well enough to judge that.
“He’s coming back after two defeats, and these defeats hurt the boys.
“AJ was devastated by the defeat to Dubois and I’m sure Fury was too [with his defeats to Usyk]both are winners.
“I don’t know if Fury can leave one of the biggest fights in the history of the sport on the table.
“I know he’s a competitor. I know he will want to give the British fight fans what they want and I hope we see more of him.
“But if we don’t, God bless the speed and all the best.”
Fury hung up his gloves after defeating Dillian Whyte in April 2022, only to return eight months later for a third fight with Derek Chisora, whom he defeated comfortably at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Hearn said Joshua will now look to secure a clash with the winner of the February 22 fight between his former rivals Dubois and Joseph Parker, who will fight in Riyad for the IBF heavyweight world title.
If Fury returns to fight AJ, the Matchroom boss insists the loser would have nowhere to go.
“They would both be devastated by defeat,” he added.
“It’s one thing to lose the world heavyweight title, but at the same time losing in a fight of this magnitude is the biggest bragging rights.
“At this stage of their career, the last word is goodbye.
“Whoever loses this fight is finished and whoever wins it moves on and that’s what you fight for.
“You’re not just fighting for a legacy, you’re fighting to save your career.
“It’s a huge fight, but it’s not on the table right now.”
Callum Simpson defended his British and Commonwealth super middleweight titles after a second-round victory over Steer Woodall on Saturday at the Park Community Arena in Sheffield.
Simpson (16-0, 11 KO) proved too good for Zak Chelli in his last competition and went on to sweep wide and claim the British and Commonwealth titles last August. Woodall (19-3-1, 12 KO) picked up his best career win, stopping Lerrone Richards in six rounds in an upset in Bolton last June.
This attack ended quickly in the second round, with a right uppercut that left Woodall on wobbly legs, and then another attack punctuated by another right uppercut, leaving “The Stallion” on the deck.
Despite beating the count, referee Mark Bates waved off the fight shortly afterwards.
Simpson dedicated his victory his dead sisterwho died tragically in August in a road accident.
“It’s bittersweet,” the 28-year-old said Heavenly sports after the fight.
“I won these titles in front of all my fans, but there’s one person that I think everyone knows who I wish was here, but I know she’s looking down on me and I make her proud.”
Dubois is tied with Camara
On the card below, Caroline Dubois (10-0-1, 5 KO) made her first defense of her WBC lightweight title against Canadian Jessica Camara (14-4-1, 3 KO), but the fight ended in a technical draw.
The fight was stopped due to a cut to Camara’s left eye from the head collision, and she also went down in the first round.
Forrest stops Miller
Cruiserweight prospect Scott Forrest needed just two rounds to defeat Deevorn Miller.
Miller (8-3, 6 KO) lost once in the first and second rounds, while Forrest (7-0, 4 KO) won outright.
Undercard remaining
In the featherlight heavyweight division, where Billy Deniz defeated Mickey Ellison (15-8, 5 KO) by one point.
Deniz (13-0, 5 KO) won with a score of 77-76.
In the six-round middleweight division, Sam Hickey (2-0, 1 KO) stopped Lewis Howells (3-2) three times en route to a first-round victory, and Mauro Silva (7-0, 3 KO) scored a 59-56 victory against Emmanuel Zion (6-3, 3 KOs).
Ellis Price (2-0, 1 KO) stopped Liam Fitzmaurice (0-1) twice en route to a first-round lightweight victory.
Lauren Price believes Natasha Jonas was pressured into fighting her ahead of their March 7 unification clash.
Price will put his WBA and IBO welterweight titles on the line when he faces IBF and WBC champion Jonas live at the Royal Albert Hall. Heavenly sports.
Jonas’ coach, Joe Gallagher, has said he would prefer to see the 40-year-old retire, and Price, who won Olympic gold in 2021, is doubtful whether her rival wants to face her.
“I don’t think either of them wanted this fight,” the 30-year-old said proboxing-fans.com.
“But like I said, she has two belts, I have three and it’s just a great fight.
“The fight is signed, sealed and announced, so on March 7 we will see who will be the best.
“If you look at my amateur record, Olympic gold medalist, I haven’t lost a single round as a professional.
“The performance I am up against [Jessica] McCaskill in Cardiff against the legitimate world champion, the proof is in the pudding.
“I’ve got it. I’m in my youth.
“She’s coming to the end of my career and I don’t blame her, but in the end she has something that I want and that’s really it, there’s nothing personal.”
Jonas secured the WBC crown with a unanimous decision victory over then-champion Ivana Habazin in December in Liverpool, moments after Price defeated Bexcy Mateus in three rounds on the same bill.
The pair then clashed during a heated post-fight interview to confirm their upcoming match.
The Welshwoman believes that her youth, speed and dominance in the ring will allow her to defeat the experienced Liverpool resident on Friday in eight weeks.
Asked what her advantage was over Jonah, Price added: “Probably my youth.
“Reading the fight, my ring IQ, my speed.
“The little feints, the triggers I do, people reading me.
“Everyone says they will do it, they will do it until I stand in front of them, so we will see on March 7.
“But overall I think I’m just better and I believe I’ll win.”
Watch the full interview with Lauren Price:
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