Regis Prograis Stops Jose Velasco in his First Title Defense!

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By Joshua “City” Brewer (At Ringside)

Once again, reporting live from the five hundred and four! Being that I am from Arkansas, originally, the fact that this is my very first time in the city is essentially a travesty! The action went down at the University of New Orleans – Lakeside Arena in New Orleans, Louisiana. Top Rank was the promotional company and the broadcast was live on ESPN, specifically, another edition of Top Rank on ESPN. The marquee fight of the night featured Regis “Rougarou” Prograis, 22-0, 19 KO’s, as he put his WBC, 140 pounds, junior welterweight (super lightweight) title on the line against Jose Velasco, 20-1, 12 KO’s. The implications were high but of course, the pressure was likely more on Prograis as he was fighting in front of his hometown fans.

In round one, both fighters started out feeling each other out, jockeying for position. The very live New Orleans crowd shouted out ‘Regis’ and ‘Rougarou’ in support of their hometown fighter. He answered with the first significant left hook. Velasco answered later on with a solid left and right hook combination that supplanted the shot by Prograis as the best two punches of the fight. This opened things up a bit more as they each exchanged combinations towards the close of the first.

Prograis landed a nice left hook early in the second, the hardest punch of the fight thus far. Velasco answered back with a combination of his own. Both fighters were still looking to take control in close quarters where Velasco landed another solid combination capped by a right hook. As the round went on Prograis was able to catch Velasco with a solid left straight that sent sweat flying and grabbed the crowd’s attention. Prograis showed a bit of defensive elusiveness while in close as he dodged a number of Velasco’s shots to close the second.

Prograis looked to be warmed up as he came out a bit more aggressive in the third. Velasco, though, didn’t back down and was ready to answer any combination of shots thrown. Midway though, Prograis was able to land a solid three punch combination to the head of Velasco, in close. Prograis started to fight more on the front foot and landed another solid straight left that moved Velasco. This was capped off by a left hook to close the round right at the bell.

Prograis made a heavy investment in Velasco’s body early in the fourth as he landed a number of combinations. Prograis landed a hard shot that seemed to hurt Velasco in the latter half of the round though Velasco was able to recover. Prograis continued to press and found a place for the straight left the body as well. Prograis caught Velasco with a hard shot that sent him into a corner with about 20 seconds left in the round as Prograis teed off from there. Velasco was able to survive the round though Prograis looked as though he was poised to take a firm grip on the fight moving forward.

Prograis continued to press in the fifth as he looked to be in control. He continued to focus on the investment to body as well. Velasco was able to land a couple of straight rights of his own before being caught with a thunderous body combination, in close, that dropped him. He was able to answer the count as Prograis honed in looking for the kill. Velasco was able to escape the round by virtue of the bell and had an uphill climb in front of him.

Prograis continued to press forward and caught Velasco with a solid left hook that seemed to rock him early and pressed to land a few others. Velasco seemingly recovered and landed a solid right hook of his own. Prograis ate the punch and looked very comfortable as he continued to move forward finding success with the straight left once again.

Velasco seemed to be on better footing early in the seventh and even landed another set of solid straights that snapped Prograis head a bit. Both fighters again started to do work on the inside with each landing their own solid shots, though Velasco seemed to have found a niche in the right straight. That all came crashing down after a hard right hook to the body sent Velasco to the canvas once again. Prograis didn’t let up and pressed even as the 10 second notice rang out as he continued to punish Velasco.

The end seemed near as Prograis refused to let up on the body work in the eighth as a game Velasco tried his damndest to grit it out before going down due to another body combination. The fight continued but Velasco immediately went down again in what the referee called a slip. Velasco came back with a solid combination which was answered by an equally as hard combo from Prograis. Miraculously, bother fighters continued to bang it out on the inside before Velasco’s corner stepped in as a Prograis combination sent Velasco stumbling to the ropes. Officially, the fight went down as a technical knockout victory for Regis Prograis at 1:59 of round eight. This marks another statement performance by Prograis as he looks to continue his impressive run at 140 through the World Boxing Super Series, season two.

Teofimo “El Brooklyn” Lopez, 10-0, 8 KO’s, looked very impressive in his six round destruction of William Silva, 25-2, 14 KO’s, In the co-feature bout for the ESPN broadcast. It didn’t take long for Lopez to show his prowess, starting in round one. Lopez was pretty patient throughout the first part of the round but near the round’s closing he caught Silva with a thunderous combination capped by a left hook that dropped him. Silva was able to answer the count, bloody nose and all, and eventually lasted the few remaining seconds of the round by a thread.

There was no question that Lopez was very comfortable as he came out for the second and impressed with his jab as he essentially looked to goad Silva in. Lopez was landing single shots that let off a resounding thud across the arena. Silva tried to fire back and essentially never truly backed down though he was taking blunt punishment. Lopez started the third much like the second, behind his jab which at this point couldn’t miss.Through latter part of the round Lopez landed a snapping right upper cut and followed up with a set of heavy combinations that visibly rocked Silva, who was essentially saved by the bell. After the bell rang Lopez stared him down as to show that he was in no way going to be denied in this moment.

The fourth round of this 10 rounder saw Lopez employ the same strategy early on as previous rounds, but at this point it was clear the end was near as he rattled off single, unanswered shots that continued to land with the same authority as earlier rounds. He again closed the round with a heavy right hook and even danced for the crowd in the corner prior to sitting on his stool. Silva, while still somewhat game, was starting to enter the territory where if nothing else, his corner needed to consider whether a stoppage was appropriate for his future fighting health.

Lopez didn’t let up in the fifth and started to step on the gas even more landing snapping left hooks that Silva couldn’t block, nor answer with his own shots. Lopez continued in and landed a number of thunderous shots that started to make everyone in the arena cringe. Silva was dropped at the end of the fifth after a ferocious combination from Lopez and he looked visibly done though his corner essentially encouraged him to stand up. Finally, at the very opening of the sixth round, Lopez landed another ferocious combination that dropped Silva and his corner rightfully stepped in to halt the fight 15 seconds into the sixth. Outstanding performance by Lopez and he seems to be a star in the making at only 20 years of age. Our condolences to out to him as well considering his dog recently passed away.

Great night down in New Orleans. The cajun/creole food was mouthwatering. The boing was excellent. And most of all, the people were genuinely great throughout. The crowd was into every moment of the fight and the love was in the air. Here’s to hoping bigtime boxing becomes more of the norm in the voodoo capital.

Until then fight fans, that fresh!

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