Regis Prograis Stops Undefeated Joel Diaz Jr in Two – Title Shot Next

Published by Shawn C.

VERONA, N.Y. (June 10, 2017) – Undefeated super lightweight Regis Prograis
made an emphatic statement Friday on ShoBox: The New Generation, knocking
down previously undefeated Joel Diaz Jr. four times in the second round as
he stamped his arrival as a legitimate contender in the 140-pound division.

The southpaw Prograis (20-0, 17 KOs), who was making his fourth start on
the prospect developmental series, called out the top names at 140 after
the second round demolition (TKO 2:55) at Turning Stone Resort Casino in
Verona, N.Y.

The special Hall of Fame edition of ShoBox: The New Generation featured
four members of the International Boxing Hall of Fame: ShoBox mainstays
Barry Tompkins and Steve Farhood and special guests Al Bernstein and Jimmy
Lennon Jr. Tompkins and Farhood will be inducted just down the road in
Canastota on Sunday in a 2017 class headlined by boxing greats Evander
Holyfield, Marco Antonio Barrera and Johnny Tapia.

The super lightweights, Prograis and Diaz, entered the main event with a
combined record of 42-0, but it was clear they were in a different class
after the first round. Prograis knocked down Diaz in the opening 30
seconds of the second in an exchange that appeared to be the result of a
clash of feet. Regardless, Prograis smelled blood and pounced on Diaz,
flooring him again with a straight left midway through the round.

The Houston resident, who relocated from New Orleans after Hurricane
Katrina, knocked down Diaz again just 15 seconds later with a straight
left. The fourth and final knockdown, courtesy of a left hook, sent Diaz
(23-1, 19 KOs) tumbling back and was enough for referee Mark Nelson to halt
the bout with just seconds left on the clock.

It was a convincing statement for Prograis, who landed 62 percent of his
power shots in the toughest test of his career.
“Tonight I proved I graduated from ShoBox,” Prograis said. “I’m ready for
the bigger stage. I’m ready for the big show. I want to fight best the
best in the division. I want (Terrance) Crawford, (Victor) Postol,
(Adrien) Broner. I want them all. None of these guys have fought anybody
like me. The boogeyman is coming. They better get ready.

“He was tough, he was strong and hit hard, but I went through it. That’s
another opponent I ran through. I run through everybody. I’m ready for my
shot. I’m coming for everybody at 140.”

Diaz, who became the 164th fighter to suffer his first defeat in the
series, was clearly disappointed with his game plan.

“I went out there too hyper, trying to kill him,” Diaz said. “I went out
too aggressive. I should have toned it down a bit. I had 10 rounds but I
just went out there trying to take him out. I should’ve calmed down.

“I should have used my jab a bit more to knock him down but I came out
swinging.”