WBC Special Preview: Prograis vs. Zorrilla

WBC Stats

Jose Sulaimán WBC  LIFETIME PRESIDENT (+)

Mauricio Sulaiman WBC PRESIDENT

WBC SUPER LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP

SMOOTHIE KING CENTER NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA, USA

JUNE 17, 2023

 TV: DAZN

THIS WILL BE THE WBC’S 2, 172 CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE  FIGHT INTHE SIXTY YEARS HISTORY OF THE WBC

EDDIE HEARN & MATCHROOM BOXING PRESENT:

REGIS PROGRAIS (US)               

WBC CHAMPION           

DATE OF BIRTH: JANUARY 24, 1989

PLACE OF BIRTH:   NEW ORLEANS, LA

RESIDENCE:          HOUSTON, TX

AGE:                            34

NICK NAME:           ROUGAROU

RECORD:                  28-1-0, 24 KO’S

KO’S:                           82.8 %

GUARD:                     SOUTHPAW

TOTAL ROUNDS:  136

WORLD TITLE FIGHTS: 6 (5-1-0)

TRAINER:                 HYLON WILLIAMS SR.

MANAGER:             EDDIE HEARN

PROMOTER:           MATCHROOM BOXING

DANIELITO ZORRILLA (P. RICO)

CHALLENGER / WBC no. 20

DATE OF BIRTH: OCTOBER 25, 1993

PLACE OF BIRTH:   TOA BAJA, P. RICO

RESIDENCE:          TOA BAJA, P. RICO

AGE:                            29

NICK NAME:           ZORRO

RECORD:                  17-1-0, 13 KO’S

KO’S:                           72.2 %

GUARD:                     ORTHODOX

TOTAL ROUNDS:  69

WORLD TITLE FIGHTS: (0)

TRAINER:

MANAGER:             MIGUEL COTTO

PROMOTER:           MC PROMOTIONS

WBC´S SUPERLIGHTWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONS

1. ROBERTO CRUZ (PHIL) 1963
2. EDDIE PERKINS (US) 1963 – 1965
3. CARLOS HERNANDEZ (VEN) 1965 – 1966
4. SANDRO LOPOPOLO (ITA) 1966 – 1967
5. PAUL FUJI (US) 1967 – 1968
6. PEDRO ADIGUE (PHIL) 1968 – 1970
7. BRUNO ARCARI (ITALY) 1970 – 1974
8. PEDRO FERNÁNDEZ (SPAIN) 1974 – 1975
9. SAENSAK MUANGSURIN (THAIL) 1975 – 1976
10. MIGUEL VELAZQUEZ (SPAIN) 1976
11. SAENSAK MUANGSURIN (THAIL) * 1976 – 1978
12. SANG-HYUN KIM (KOREA) 1978 – 1980
13. SAOUL MAMBY (US) 1980 – 1982
14. LEROY HALEY (US) 1982 – 1983
15. BRUCE CURRY (US) 1983 – 1984
16. BILL COSTELLO (US) 1984 – 1985
17. LONNIE SMITH (US) 1985 – 1986
18. RENE ARREDONDO (MEXICO) 1986
19. TSUYOSHI HAMADA (JAPAN) 1986 – 1987
20. RENE ARREDONDO (MÉXICO) * 1987
21. ROGER MAYWEATHER (US) 1987 – 1989
22. JULIO CESAR CHAVEZ (MEX) 1989 – 1994
23. FRANKIE RANDALL (US) 1994
24. JULIO CESAR CHAVEZ (MEX) * 1994 – 1996
25. OSCAR DE LA HOYA (US-MEX) 1996 – 1997
26. KONSTANTIN TSZYU (AUSTRALIA) 1998 – 2003
27. ARTURO GATTI (CANADA) 2004 – 2005
28. FLOYD MAYWEATHER (US) 2005
29. JUNIOR WITTER (GB) 2006 – 2008
30. TIMOTHY BRADLEY (US) 2008 – 2009
31. DEVON ALEXANDER (US) 2009 – 2011
32. TIMOTHY BRADLEY (US) * 2011
33. ERIK MORALES (MEXICO) 2011 – 2012
34. LUCAS MATTHYYSSE (ARGENTINA) Interim 2012 – 2013
35. DANNY GARCIA (US) 2012 – 2015
36. VIKTOR POSTOL (UKRAINE) 2015 – 2016
37. TERENCE CRAWFORD (US) 2016 – 2018
38. REGIS PROGRAIS (US) Interim 2018 – 2019
39. JOSE CARLOS RAMIREZ (US) 2018 – 2021
40. JOSH TAYLOR (GB) 2021 – 2022
41. REGIS PROGRAIS (US) * 2022 –

* REGAINED

WBC SUPERLIGHTWEIGHT TOP TEN CHAMPIONS

1. JULIO CESAR CHAVEZ (MEX)
2. KOSTYA TSZYU (RUS/AUST)
3. OSCAR DE LA HOYA (US/MEXICO)
4. ROGER MAYWEATHER (US)
5. TIMOTHY BRADLEY (US)
6. BRUNO ARCARI (ITALY)
7. ARTURO GATTI (CANADA)
8. DANNY GARCIA (US)
9. DEVON ALEXANDER (US)
10. SAENSAK MUANGSURIN (THAI)

GENERAL INFORMATION ON THE SUPER LIGHTWEIGHT DIVISION

THERE HAVE BEEN 36 WORLD CHAMPIONS RECOGNIZED BY THE WBC AND JUST 5 OF THEM HAVE REGAINED THEIR TITLE:

SAENSAK MUANGSURIN (THAILAND)

RENE ARREDONDO (MEXICO)

JULIO CESAR CHAVEZ (MEXICO)

TIMOTHY BRADLEY (US)

REIS PROGRAIS (US)

WBC SUPER LIGHTWEIGHT WORLD TITLE BOUTS BY COUNTRY

USA                             80

ITALY                          12

JAPAN                          10

MEXICO                       6

THAILAND                   5

SPAIN                          4

ENGLAND                    4

KOREA                         3

VENEZUELA                2

PHILIPPINES                2

JAMAICA                     2

PUERTO RICO            1

NIGERIA                      1

INDONESIA                  1

DENMARK                   1

CANADA                      1

AUSTRALIA                 1

TOTAL FIGHTS       136

WBC TITLE FIGHTS IN THE CALIFORNIA STATE IN THE WBC HISTORY

246 WORLD TITLE FIGHTS HAVE BEEN HELD IN THE CALIFORNIA STATE IN ALL WBC HISTORY

17 TITLE FIGHTS IN THE SUPERLIGHTWEIGHT DIVISION HAVE TAKEN PLACE IN THE CALIFORNIA STATE IN THE HISTORY OF THE WBC AND THIS WILL BE THE 247th WBC TITLE FIGHT IN CALIFORNIA STATE IN THE HISTORY OF THE WBC

FIGHTS BY DIVISION IN THE CALIFORNIA STATE IN ALL WBC HISTORY

BANTAM                                    30

SUPERBANTAM                         27

WELTER                                     24

LIGHT                                         22

SUPERFEATHER                       22

FEATHER                                   21

SUPERWELTER                         17

SUPERLIGHT                             17

SUPERFLY                                 17

LT. FLY                                      12

MIDDLE                                     9

HEAVY                                        8

SUPERMIDDLE                         6

LT. HEAVY 5

FLY                                             4

CRUISER                                    3

STRAW                                        2

TOTAL FIGHTS            246

Accounting for variable change

By James Blears

World Boxing Council super-lightweight champion Regis “Rougarou” Prograis defends his title for the first time, and it`ll be on home turf at the Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, against Danielito “Zorro” Zorrilla on June 17^th.

It was to be against Liam Paro, who had to withdraw, hobbling with and suffering from tendonitis in both Achilles heels.  Regis was philosophical and stoic about the change of opponent saying: “I`m glad Zorrilla has taken the fight. Nothing changes for me.  I`m still working hard to go out there, and prove that I`m the best fighter in the world at one hundred and forty pounds.”

The sentiment involved in this is unquestionably sound. Barrel chested Regis is a talented, subtle and seasoned southpaw warrior, fully confident in his abilities and will fight any opponent. Let them come!

But a change of opponent logically plus inevitably presents a different scrapbook scenario, and it`s always wise to account for variable change.  As one door closes, then another opens and the odds change, with that slam and the ensuing swing.  In the film 21, while praising MIT math prodigy Ben Campbell`s perceptive intelligence, smirking Professor Micky Rosa  told the other fawning university students : “People, remember if you don`t know which door to open, always account for variable change.”

Every fighter is different. Each brings a different main course to the top table. Unlike Paro who is an Australian southpaw, Puerto Rican Zorrilla fights from a conventional stance.  Paro remains undefeated, while Zorrilla, has just one loss on his record.

That was against Arnold Barboza Jr over ten absorbing rounds.  Although Danielito lost a UD, he wobbled Arnold with a counter right in the second, made the eighth torrid and also launched a blistering onslaught in the final round.  In any fight he proves he`s unpredictably dangerous from beginning to end.  His career record of 17-1, 13 KO`s proves that.

Promoted by the legendary Miguel Cotto, who is his hero plus Tito Trinidad, he`s grateful for this opportunity and is determined to make the most of it. Something of a slow developer aged twenty nine, this is his simultaneous chance to be a late bloomer and a party blooper.

Standing five feet nine inches tall with a seventy inches reach, Danielito is big, rangy and robust for the super-lightweight category.  He has marked up several notable notches in his career. Early on he dispatched former WBC super-featherweight Champion Gamaliel “El Platano” Diaz with a second round KO.  In round one Gamaliel was down. A big right set him up for a clipping left hook which felled him. The bell saved him, but not for long. A massive counter left put him back on the canvass and this time, he wasn`t able to beat the count.  Danielito took out Pablo Cesar Cano in two rounds.  An overhead right stunned Cano, who took a knee and wasn`t able to continue.

Danielito who has been a pro since 2016. Four years less than Regis. Danielito is strong, capable, technically proficient and can counter pop with aplomb, although against Barboza Jr, his punch output dipped significantly.  He`s efficient and competent rather than radiant. He`s yet to set the world alight.  However, he`s relishing the role of the potential proverbial fly in the ointment, by illuminatingly  stressing:

“I know that people think that I have no chance to beat Prograis and that motivates me. I like this because I see it as a challenge.  I`m not afraid of challenges. Boxers` careers are short, so opportunities like this cannot be missed.”

With the brevity aspect very much in mind and to the fore, Regis (28-1, 24 KO`s) who is thirty four, has recently signed a long term contract with Eddie Hearn and Matchroom explaining: “I had a gut feeling that this is the way to go and this is what I did. It`s the right decision and this is where I need to be.  This upcoming fight is my homecoming!”

This is Regis` second reign as super-lightweight champion.  In the World Boxing Super Series he TKO`d WBA champion  Kiryl Relikh in round six. A crunching left to the liver doubled up Kiryl in round one. He turned his back, scarpered and fled, as Regis swarmed. He went down, got up at eight and the bell saved him.  Towards the end of round two, a scything left split the bridge of Kiryl`s nose which copiously bled.

In round six a left to the body numbed him, followed by a right to the head and a coup of a left uppercut. Referee Luis Pabon had seen enough and stopped the fight at one minute thirty six.  Regis in supreme overwhelming mode.

Then the Final of this Series was against IBF champion and also southpaw Josh “The Tartan Tornedo” Taylor. The WBC Diamond Belt was also at stake.  It was a titanic to and fro tussle, in which Josh was just a smidgeon sharper, yet Regis landed a lot of effective body shots and came on strong towards the end.  Josh won by a majority decision. What a fight it was!

Unabashed, unfazed and utterly undaunted, Regis roared back with a third round TKO of Juan Hernandez, a sixth round technical decision over Ivan Redkach and a sixth round TKO over Tyrone McKenna. Then the southpaw war with Jose “Chon” Zepeda  for the vacant WBC Green and Gold Belt.  What a battle royal it was!

Chon had his moments but… they increasingly became few and far between. Regis grimly, methodically,  and ruthlessly piled on the pressure and in so doing, he was remorselessly relentless.  In round eleven a huge left hook to the head stunned Chon against the ropes, and an avalanche of punches dropped him to the canvass, where he remained slumped.  Referee Ray Corona immediately stopped it at fifty nine seconds.  Regis had stuck around and struck a round, to become champion of this division all over again. But this time with an absolute Green and Gold sheen.

Regis carries his guard relatively low, but his hand speed is deceptively quick, his head movement is mongoose like and his ring craft is intelligently elusive.  Using his chunky Marciano like muscular legs, he can dip low and then surge up with great agility plus mustered power. This low slung guard might afford. Danielito some possible counter punching opportunities.  But Regis` work rate is ferociously prodigious,  and to supersede,  Danielito would have to match and then exceed. Any slacking, would he grievously lacking!

Regis comes into this as a clear favorite, but Danielito does realistically have more than a puncher`s chance. Yet, it would need , and he would require the performance of a lifetime to overcome an at his peak Regis, who possesses extraordinary brimming self- confidence as well as iron willpower.  Regis is just one inch shorter than Danielito but is outreached by three inches.

So hope Regis wears that wonderful Rougarou/ Cajun werewolf mask in his ring walk. Will the music be King Creole by Elvis?  My personal favorite would be: Way down yonder in New Orleans, belted out by Freddy Cannon. A marvelous 1959 swansong remnant of the Big Band era.