REGIS Prograis survived several rocky moments to earn a points victory over Jo Jo Diaz in a thrilling 10-round slugfest that may end up in the Fight of the Year conversation by the end of 2025.
The 142lb catchweight bout served as chief support to Oscar Duarte vs. Kenneth Sims Jr. at the University of Illinois in Chicago and lived up to its billing as a crossroads fight. With 11 defeats between them, both men were fighting for their futures. Prograis had even vowed to retire if he lost.
Yet despite the stakes, both fighters showed grit, stamina, and enough skill to justify fighting on.
Prograis, a former two-time super-lightweight champion, started well by landing thudding body shots in the opener – simple but effective work. But Diaz, who began his career at super-bantamweight, was the greater threat throughout. A short, clubbing left hand in the first round wobbled Prograis and forced the New Orleans native to hold on and survive.
Prograis found sanctuary boxing from the outside. At range, the 36-year-old controlled the tempo with a sharp jab and quick combinations that Diaz struggled to answer. Even so, Diaz landed another heavy left in the dying seconds of round two, briefly stunning the betting favourite again.
Prograis continued to take risks up close, often dropping his hands and relying on reflexes to evade Diaz’s return fire. The all-southpaw clash was rarely messy, but an accidental clash of heads in the fourth left the left side of Diaz’s face smeared in blood. Prograis then tumbled to the canvas, and while he was down, Diaz landed a punch – an illegal shot that referee Ben Rodriguez chose not to penalise.
Before the sixth round began, Diaz’s cut was inspected by the ringside physician. The fighter answered the doctor’s “how many fingers?” test incorrectly more than once but was allowed to continue. He shrugged it off and went toe-to-toe with Prograis during the closing seconds of that round, rocking the older man again.
Prograis often looked one punch away from disaster, but his left hand from mid-range remained his most effective weapon. When he strung punches together, there was a clear gulf in class. Still, the signs of decline are apparent. Against a more powerful opponent, Prograis might not have heard the final bell.
The crowd was enthralled by the action. While Prograis threw more, Diaz landed the more telling shots and left everything in the ring in his bid to pull off what would have been one of the biggest wins of his career. After a hellacious battle, the two warriors embraced. They had gone to the well, and the fans showed their appreciation with a standing ovation.
Unfortunately, judge Mike Fitzgerald’s 98-92 scorecard was the night’s lone sour note. Diaz deserved better. Judges Nathan Palmer and Cassandra Lewis both had it 96-94 for Prograis – the same score as Boxing News.
A rematch may be on the table after such a crowd-pleasing, back-and-forth affair. Over 12 rounds, the result might well have gone the other way. For now, Prograis and Diaz live to fight another day.
REGIS Prograis survived a number of difficult moments to record a points win against Jo Jo Diaz.
The chief support to Oscar Duarte-Kenneth Sims Jr at the University of Illinois, Chicago produced a slugfest over 10 rounds, one which will be in the conversation for Fight of the Year come the end of 2025.
The 142lb catchweight bout was billed as a crossroads bout with Prograis vowing to retire if he couldn’t beat Diaz. With 11 defeats between them, retirement was staring them in the face but the conditioning and performance from both will lead them to fight another day.
Prograis, a two-time super-lightweight champion, started positively sinking body shots in the opening session. It was simple yet effective but Diaz, who began his career at super-bantamweight, proved he was the greater threat throughout and began so with a short, clubbing left hand which wobbled Prograis forcing the New Orleans boxer to hold on and survive.
Boxing on the outside saved Prograis from danger in each round. At this range the 36-year-old could control the action with a razor jab and speedy combinations which Diaz could do little about.
For all his good work the betting favourite was stunned again in the second by another left hand in the final seconds but did enough to win the round.
Prograis would take risks on the inside with his hands down and depending on his reflexes to evade anything come back from the 32-year-old Diaz.
The all-southpaw clash was rarely untidy but an accidental clash of heads in the fourth turned the left side of Diaz’s face claret red. A tumble to the floor from Prograis ended with a punch from Diaz while his opponent was down – a foul he was lucky to escape any punishment from referee Ben Rodriguez.
At the beginning of the sixth Diaz’ cut was checked by the ringside physician. Upon asking him how many fingers he was holding up the fighter answered incorrectly more than once but was deemed as good to carry on.
Diaz shrugged off any concerns going toe-to-toe in the final seconds against a tired-looking Prograis who occasionally looked one punch away from being in danger of losing.
The Prograis left hand from mid-range was the money shot for ‘Rougarou’ and when he put his shots together there was a gulf in class. But father time is catching up with Prograis and a heavier-handed fighter would likely have ended the fight inside the distance.
The crowd were gripped by the back and forth action. Prograis threw more but the telling shots were with Diaz who gave everything he had to try and pull off the upset and what would have been one of the biggest wins of his career. After a hellacious battle the two men embraced knowing they had went to the well, the paying fans respected their efforts with a deserving standing ovation. Sadly, the 98-92 scorecard from judge Mike Fitzgerald was the only disappointment. Diaz deserved better than that. Judges Nathan Palmer and Cassandra Lewis both saw it 96-94 for Prograis – the same as how Boxing News saw it.
A rematch may well be on the cards such was the action on display and the ebb and flow of the fight which may have had a different outcome had it gone 12 rounds. Prograis (30-3, 24 KOs) and Diaz (34-8-1, 15 KOs) aren’t quite finished yet.
