Prograis Expects Strong Performance from Haney in Upcoming Bout
"Prograis Anticipates a Stronger Performance from Devin Haney in Upcoming Bout" WBC light welterweight champion, Devin Haney, has high expectations for his performance in the upcoming match against Regis Prograis, believing that he will fare much better than his previous fight against Vasily Lomachenko. In his last bout, Haney (30-0, 15 KOs) showed signs of fatigue in the later rounds, possibly due to the weight cut he underwent to reach 135 pounds. With his move up to the 140-pound division to face Prograis (29-1, 24 KOs), this weight issue may no longer be a concern. However, Haney's physical appearance at a press conference raised eyebrows, resembling that of a 154-pound fighter. Shedding the excess weight may pose a challenge for him, potentially affecting his performance as it did against Lomachenko. Nonetheless, if Prograis replicates his last impressive performance against Danielito Zorrilla, Haney could face an uphill battle. Prograis is not underestimating Haney and has no intentions of relying on Haney's past fight with Lomachenko as a reference point. He acknowledged that this will be a different fight, emphasizing that Lomachenko's technical skills far exceed his own. Prograis also expressed his interest in more significant fights after facing Haney. He considers a rematch with Josh Taylor less appealing business-wise, as there are bigger opportunities on the horizon. When asked about a potential fight with Ryan Garcia, Prograis showed interest, noting that it would be a more significant bout, given Garcia's marketability despite not holding a championship belt. In the context of Prograis' career, the notion of avenging his loss to Josh Taylor is becoming less relevant, as Taylor's prime may have passed. Prograis pointed out that the best time to seek revenge was right after their 2019 bout, but Taylor did not express interest in a rematch. As for Terence Crawford's chances against Canelo Alvarez, Prograis believed the weight difference was a significant factor and cautioned against trying to match fighters across weight classes. He expressed his desire to see fights between himself and Ryan Garcia or Teofimo Lopez, showing his support for fellow fighters and his belief in their potential. Prograis also had faith in Jermall Charlo's abilities but emphasized the need for him to regain focus after a two-year hiatus from the ring.
