Regis Prograis can’t believe another 140-pound contender appears to be hesitant to fight him for his WBC title.
Arnold Barboza Jr., the other 140-pound contender in question, finds it rich that Prograis would call him out after making a decision to sign with a rival promoter.
In the latest boxing soap opera, two of the top 140-pounders took to social media to bicker at each other in regards to a fight that seems unlikely to happen with each passing moment.
After it was reported by BoxingScene.com earlier this week that Australia’s Liam Paro had to bow out of the June 17 fight date against Prograis at the Smoothie King Center in Prograis’ hometown of New Orleans, attention turned toward Barboza, who became the front-runner to replace the injured Paro.
Earlier this month, Prograis signed a multi-fight deal with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom, picking the England-based company over Top Rank, which is home to several of the elite talents at 140, including WBO titlist Josh Taylor, Teofimo Lopez, Jose Ramirez, Jose Pedraza, and Barboza. Prograis has had a long history going back and forth with his rivals in the Top Rank stable, most notably with Ramirez.
“The replacement is supposed to be Arnold Barboza Jr.,” Prograis said in a video posted on his Instagram on Thursday. “I know for a long time he been calling me out. He said he wanted the fight. So, now it’s his shot. I know some people said that if it’s the right opportunity or not—but listen if you believe you can win, and you’re fighting for the WBC belt, there’s no such thing as ‘not the right opportunity.’ So, let’s see if he gon’ take the fight.
“Let’s see if you gon’ actually take the fight or if you gon’ hide behind the business side of things.”
In response, Barboza posted his own video in which he took exception to Prograis’ calls to look beyond business matters. Barboza reminded Prograis that he opted to sign with Matchroom, instead of Top Rank, which was, in effect, a business decision.
“I seen Regis’ video,” Barboza said. “F—- outta here with that ‘don’t hide behind the business side of things,’ when you were supposed to have been signed with Top Rank. That fight was pretty much guaranteed with me once you signed, once you put pen to paper, that fight was going to get made. And plus all the other 140s that are with Top Rank. But you decided to go another route because of business side of things, right? Because it was better for you, right?
“So don’t come at me dog, with ‘the business side of things.’ C’mon man, don’t do that. All of a sudden you don’t have no dance partner, you want me on a three-week notice, that’s fine. I want the fight. We’re gonna get it. Talk to Eddie Hearn, tell him to send the right number, and let’s do it.”
Barboza, a native of Los Angeles, recently pulled out of a WBO junior welterweight eliminator against Paro because Paro’s promoter, Matchroom, refused to negotiate terms; Matchroom won the purse bid for that fight, and per the WBO’s rules, Paro was entitled to 60% of the pot against 40% for Barboza.
A dismayed Prograis has a hard time wrapping his head around the fact that so many of the contenders who have called him out have suddenly gotten cold feet.
“What the f— is going on in boxing?” Prograis said. “What’s wrong with y’all? If you’ve gotta title shot and you’re about to fight for the WBC belt and you’re gonna turn it down? What’s wrong with y’all, bruh? People’ll be saying they want smoke and they want this and they want that but when they hold that sh!t in front of their face, they scared…C’mon, bruh. If I had a title shot, I’m taking it. For the WBC Prograis and Barboza Bicker Over Replacement Needed for June 17 Headliner, I’m taking it.”
Sean Nam is the author of the forthcoming book Murder on Federal Street: Tyrone Everett, the Black Mafia, and the Last Golden Age of Philadelphia Boxing.