Former beltholder Regis Prograis and longtime contender Jose Zepeda will fight for a vacant 140-pound title Saturday in Carson, California.
REGIS PROGRAIS (27-1, 23 KOs) vs. JOSE ZEPEDA (35-2, 27 KOs)
- Date: Saturday, Nov. 26
- Time: 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
- Where: Dignity Health Sports Park, Carson, California
- TV/Stream: Pay-per-view ($59.99)
- Division: Junior welterweights (140 pounds)
- At stake: Vacant WBC title
- Pound-for-pound ranking: None
- Odds: Prograis 3½-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
- Also on the card: Evelyn Bermudez vs. Yokasta Valle, junior flyweights (for Bermudez’s IBF and WBO titles); Ruben Torres vs. Eduardo Estela, lightweights; Charles Conwell vs. Juan Carlos Abreu, junior middleweights; Bakhodir Jalolov vs. Curtis Harper, heavyweights
- Prediction: Prograis UD
- Background: This is an excellent matchup between two talented, experienced 140-pounders for a vacant major title. Prograis, a terrific all-around fighter, is a former 140-pound titleholder who lost his belt by a close decision in a unification bout with Josh Taylor in 2019. The native of New Orleans has stopped three opponents since, Juan Heraldez, Ivan Redkach and Tyrone McKenna. The McKenna fight took place in March. Zepeda is an excellent technician who can also punch and take a good shot. This will be the Los Angeles-area fighter’s third attempt to win a major title. He fell to then 135-pound titleholder Terry Flanagan by a second-round technical knockout when he dislocated his shoulder in 2015. And he lost a majority decision to then-140-pound champ Jose Ramirez in 2019, a fight some believe Zepeda deserved to win. He’s 5-0 since that setback, including victories over respected opponents Jose Pedraza, Ivan Baranchyk and Hank Lundy. Zepeda last fought in October of last year, when he stopped Josue Vargas in one round.
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