By Boxing Box Newman at ringside
WBC Super Lightweight champion Regis “Rougarou” Prograis took on late replacement Danielito Zorrilla of Puerto Rico in the first defense of his title at the Smoothie Center in his hometown of New Orleans, LA. Zorrilla stepped in after Australia’s Liam Paro pulled out a month ago with an undisclosed injury.
Late in the first, a lead right from Zorrilla caught Prograis flush and appeared to send him to the canvas, but Prograis grabbed an on rushing Zorrilla, which landed in a tackle and referee Corona ruling it a push. Prograis turned the trick early in round three, landing a long left which dropped Zorrilla into an almost a back somersault!
Zorrilla did well to last the round, despite the best efforts of Prograis to end it then and there. Despite being the bigger man, Zorrilla took to being defensive on his bicycle as Prograis stalked and measured. Zorrilla got more aggressive in the eighth, snapping Prograis’ head with his jab. In the ninth, Prograis looked to take the play back a bit too aggressively, missing wildly with some off balance shots.
A retreating Zorrilla, a chasing Prograis spelled the remainder of this untidy affair. At the sound of the final bell, Zorrilla straddled the ropes in the neutral corner, sure of victory. The final scores were as follows: 118-109 Prograis, 114-113 Zorrilla, 117-110 Prograis, who retains his title on a split decision.
Photos by Boxing Bob Newman_
Really bad performance by Prograis against a late sub. He couldn’t find range at all against Zorrilla. What should’ve been a showcase fight him on DAZN was a disaster. He’s not as good as he think he is. As for Zorilla, no way in hell he’s getting a decision by running for most of the fight.
He didn’t think he was that good, said he needed to get to the gym and improve things.
Judge 118-109, needs glasses, Prograis got a hometown decision, Subriel Matias knocks this fool out, Matias is a brawler from Puerto Rico unlike Zorro.
Matias is a bum lol !
Sorry for Prograis, but he will never gonna be a star with this kind of performance, but for his own good, maybe this snoozer will encourage Jose Ramirez to face him.
Note: a judges miscommunication (maybe a phone with low battery) was the cause of scorecards being all over the places
Subriel Mathias is right now the star of this division. He smokes everyone of them including Teo.
Least punches landed EVER in a so called World Championship… seen better sparring sessions with 12 year olds
Agreed for a 140 lb fight, but Fury vs Wlad was the worst in my 40+ years of watching Boxing. At least this fight had enough contact to cause both fighters to hit the canvas.
Still, this was a really bad fight! It made the prior fight on the card look like a barn burner.
Would better fight if his orginal opponent Liam Paro wasn’t injured had to withdraw.
Boring.
I see a lot of bitching about Prograis and his performance. I didn’t see the fight, but from what I hear Zorrito didn’t want to engage.Now people are saying Matias knocks him out….Not saying Prograis beats him, but he is a statue that will be there to be hit. Good fight, would love to see it, but fans tend to not understand nuance.
Kp, if you saw the fight you would be bitching with the rest of us. Regis is very active online and talks way too much IMO (I’m a killer, king of the division, etc.) and did not back it up at all in this fight. Zorrilla was fighting scared all night but the funny thing is he made Regis felt his power in the first round. Of course, styles makes fights and him and Subriel would def. make for a good fight.
Just like the other 19.. jaja
Many will argue zorrilla didnt do enough but im sorry Prograis did even less. I failed to notice what Prograis do other than follow Zorrilla around getting whacked. 118-109 117-111, that isnt hometown stuff, thats straight corruption. Its time the DOJ and the FBI investigated boxing. You cant rig fights using government officials. This incestual relationship between promoters sanctioning bodies and government officials needs to end. They handed Prograis his title back tonight but its the end of the road for that guy. Complete disgrace of an event
Unfortunately today’s weaponized DOJ and the FBI are far more corrupt than even the sport of boxing.
It’s becoming more and more evident that thanks to the lack of legitimate and knowledgeable trainers, coupled with lazy and inactive prizefighters that want money for nothing that the science of boxing is at death’s door.
Gone are the legitimate trainers like Ray Arcel and Eddie Futch, only to be replaced imposters or somebody’s dad that know nothing of the nuances of boxing, just shouting and berating their charges.
Also gone is anyone willing to actually work in that ring. They posture and pose, unwilling to engage, scared to be hit or hurt. No workrate at all.
You fellas wanna be rich? Make yourself marketable, not through talk on twitter, but by fighting and entertaining in the ring. Maybe score a few knockouts while you’re at it in there.
Hate to break it to these bums, but you don’t make “Sugar” Ray Leonard money with “Sugar” Ray Olivera talent.
And that’s not a knock on Oliveira; if he was fighting today, he’d be a three division champion. If you can, watch his fights with Zack Padilla and Jake Rodriguez. He probably threw more punches in those two fights than some of these modern day luminaries have in their entire careers.
Sorry man, but don’t bring Ray Olivera into this. That’s bad. With the talent he had he did the best he could and was one hell of a fighter. A gutsy warrior and true professional. Didn’t see the post below. Glad someone agrees.
Can’t wait for Prograis and Lopez: The cure for insomnia!
Perfect t example of styles make fights but C’mon Regiis did not look nor performed like a top champion, hedid not adapt or change his approach.
I had Zorilla winning by 3 points, Zorilla was not exciting but his game plan was was the right one,fight defensively and counter quickly when possible and he was successful, of anything Zorilla lay down the blue print on how to school Regis with that approach
Haney would walk all over Regis literally only thing like always Haney has a suspect chin.
This version of Regis wont go far with Teofimo,
Talk about insane scores from the judges. Obviously the one with the 114-113 for the challenger saw a totally different fight from the other two judges.
About as entertaining as women’s boxing.
All fighters have a bad night. Don’t overlook Prograis, he can crack.
i”ve seen prograis a few times and i thought he was a really good fighter. i’ve only watched the first round of this one. that is one of the worst missed knock down calls i’ve seen in a while.
Zorrilla came for a paycheck that he should have not gotten paid
Rolly anyone?