Eddie Hearn wants to make sure there are no hitches in the fight schedule of Regis Prograis.
The WBC 140-pound titlist from New Orleans recently inked a multi-fight promotional deal with Hearn’s Matchroom. His first fight on the new contract will take place June 17 against late replacement Danielito Zorrilla at Smooth King Center in Prograis’ hometown; Prograis was originally supposed to take on Liam Paro, but the Australian contender suffered an injury.
After Zorrilla, Hearn hopes to make a deal for Prograis to fight Subriel Matias, the Puerto Rican who holds the IBF 140-pound title, in a two-belt unification bout. But if a Matias fight is not immediately possible, Hearn would then look to pair his new charge with the winner of the junior welterweight bout between Jack Catterall and Darragh Foley this Saturday at Manchester Arena in Manchester, England.
“I’d like to make the Matias fight, the unification,” Hearn told iFL TV. “I want Regis to try and pick up those belts. Matias is a free agent at the moment. I’m sure he’s got offers as well, but I’d like to try and find a way to make that happen.
“If not, Jack Catterall against Darragh Foley this weekend in Manchester is a great fight. I think the winner deserves a shot at the world title as well. For me that’s kind of an unofficial eliminator for the world title. But the focus for Regis Prograis is coming through June 17 and then move into the unifications.”
The southpaw Catterall is coming off his controversial decision loss to WBO titlist Josh Taylor one year ago in Scotland. Plans to partake in a rematch finally fell apart earlier this year after months of negotiations and postponements. Catterall then cut ties with his then-promoter, Boxxer, and signed with Hearn.
The 34-year-old Prograis won his WBC belt last November with an 11th-round stoppage of Jose Zepeda at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California.
Sean Nam is the author of Murder on Federal Street: Tyrone Everett, the Black Mafia, and the Last Golden Age of Philadelphia Boxing.
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