Once upon a time the 140lbs (10st) junior-welterweight division had a unified world champion. That man was Scotland’s Josh Taylor. Then, he was gradually denuded of that title by having to relinquish one of the sanctioning belts and later had others removed. When he faced, and lost to Teofimo Lopez, only a few remaining belts were up for grabs. He was beaten convincingly in his first defeat.
Since then, like in many weight divisions, the title has become splintered and many organisations call their champion the world champion. Such is the frustration and dichotomy of modern boxing.
On Saturday (9 Dec) in San Francisco, California one of Taylor’s ‘victims’ defends his WBC title against a recent deserter of the lightweight (135lbs/9st 9lb) division. Here, New Orleans’ Regis Prograis (29-1, 24 KO’s) will aim to defeat former undisputed lightweight champion Devin Haney (30-0, 15 KO’s).
Prograis, a southpaw is an elite fighter and former WBA title holder. Haney is an orthodox stylish boxer and will be fighting at home. He is a marginal favorite going in. Stylistically and talent-wise it promises to be an excellent contest.
Haney is The Ring magazine lightweight champion and in recent bouts has added the names of Vasiliy Lomachenko and George Kambosos Jr. on his win record. There is a ten year age gap between the two, with Prograis being the older at 35. Haney has looked the more impressive of the two in their most recent bouts.
The contest will be on the DAZN streaming site. Watch it if you can, early Sunday morning (UK time), because who knows ? .. we might just be on our way to re-unifying the title. Wishful thinking I’m sure.
In a far less glamorous setting, but of some world significance there are attempts to bring together the cruiserweights (200lbs, 14st 4lbs) with the latest outing of WBO champion Chris Billam-Smith (18-1, 12 KO’s). Fighting in his hometown of Bournemouth, England, he makes a first defence of the title he won last summer in the same city outdoors against Lawrence Okolie.
‘The Gentleman’ meets Poland’s tall Masteusz Masternak (47-5, 31 KO’s) on Sunday (10 Dec). There is currently a plethora of top cruiserweights in the UK, but The Ring magazine and IBF champion is Australia’s Jai Opetaia (23-0, 18 KO’s), who is the man to beat in this weight class. It should be an exciting two years to see who rises from the dust to be top dog.
Also on the BOXXER promoted bill is the awaited return of Tokyo Olympic silver medallist and undefeated prospect Ben ‘The Surgeon’ Whittaker (4-0, 3 KO’s). The Wolverhampton, England man looks to have all the class and charisma to succeed but he needs to keep busy and winning in the early stages of his pro’ career. He should come through safely but the key will be more how he looks having been out since July and with his clear promise.
The full BOXXER show will be televised in the UK on Sky Sports and in the US on the Peacock (NBC) channel.
The Undisputed 