The way Regis Prograis sees it, he’s still the best 140-pounder in the world.
Prograis (24-1, 20 KOs) is coming off a majority-decision loss to Josh Taylor in a hard-fought title-unification bout in October of last year in London but believes he did enough to have his hand raised.
Now, with the “L” on his record, his mission is to get back to where he feels he belongs. He starts that process against unbeaten Juan Heraldez on the Gervonta Davis-Leo Santa Cruz pay-per-view card Saturday at the Alamodome in San Antonio.
“I still feel I’m the best at 140 pounds,” he said during a virtual news conference Wednesday, with Heraldez sitting nearby. “I want to go out there, basically, to get my belts back. This is the first step. I know this dude is coming to fight but I’ve been training my ass off.
“I have a different focus, living like a fighter right now. I’m going to go out there and do my thing.”
Of course, Heraldez (16-0-1, 10 KOs) plans to do his thing too.
The native of Los Angeles, coming off a draw with veteran Argenis Mendez in May of last year, will be taking a significant step in opposition in this fight. However, he doesn’t talk like an underdog.
Boxing skills? “I have more advantages in my game than he does,” he said.
Prograis’ lofty position? “He had his chance to be elite. Now it’s my time. He fought Taylor and lost.”
The notion that this is a step-up fight? “I’ve been in boxing all my life, so I don’t think I’m stepping up to him.”
“I can box and I can punch,” he said. “There’s not going to be anything else that needs to be said or done. This fight is going to prove to everyone that I have a great boxing skills.
“It’s going to put me in a position to earn respect, win belts and make more money.”
Prograis had been reserved in his comments until he got a taste of Hernadelz’s brashness. He plans to make Heraldez eat his words on Saturday and then keep a close eye on what happens when Taylor fights Jose Ramirez in a title-unification bout next year.
“I can’t wait,” he said. “I’m going to do what the f— I got to do to f— this boy up.”
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