Regis Prograis entered 2021 with the intention of pursuing nothing but high-profile fights and opportunities.
That wish has been granted for his first one out of the gate.
The former junior welterweight titlist has secured a spot on the undercard of the April 17 Triller Pay-Per-View event to take place at a venue to be determined in Atlanta, sources with knowledge of the development have informed BoxingScene.com. Prograis will face Ivan Redkach in a bout to serve in supporting capacity to the well-publicized grudge match between You Tube personality and Jake Paul (2-0, 2KOs) and former UFC fighter Ben Askren (pro debut).
The Athletic’s Mike Coppinger was the first to reveal the news, via social media.
Prograis (25-1, 21KOs) will appear on his second straight PPV show. The 32-year old southpaw from Katy, Texas is coming off of a 3rd round knockout of unbeaten Juan Heraldez last October in support of Gervonta Davis’ 6th round knockout of Leo Santa Cruz with both bouts airing on Showtime PPV.
The feat marked Prograis’ first fight since a narrow 12-round majority decision defeat to Scotland’s Josh Taylor (17-0, 13KOs) in their Oct. 2019 World Boxing Super Series final and junior welterweight title unification clash in London. Prograis held the WBA 140-pound title heading into the bout, having won the strap in a 6th round knockout of Kiryl Relikh in April 2019.
Redkach (23-5-1, 18KOs)—a 34-year old southpaw from Los Angeles by way of Shostka, Ukrain—has been out of the ring since a 12-round decision loss to former two-division champ Danny Garcia last January in Brooklyn, New York. The bout left Redkach in hot water as he was fined and suspended by the New York State Athletic Commission for biting Garcia during their bout.
The loss to Garcia snapped a three-fight win streak for Redkach, which include a come-from-behind 6th round knockout of former two-division titlist Devon Alexander in June 2019.
Interestingly, Prograis and Redkach were both in pursuit of a showdown with former four-division titlist Adrien Broner (34-4-1, 24KOs). Redkach was in the hunt to land the assignment as the comeback opponent of choice for Broner, only to be passed over for Pedro Campa who in turn was replaced by Jovanie Santiago after testing positive for COVID.
Prograis had his sights set on Broner from the moment he signed with Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) last summer, only for the Cincinnati native to remain dismissive of such a fight. Eager to remain active, Prograis instead accepted the fight with Redkach—more so for the platform on which it will appear.
As previously reported by BoxingScene.com’s Manouk Akopyan, the show will also include a heavyweight clash between former light heavyweight king Antonio Tarver (31-6-2, 22KOs) and ex-UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir.
Askren and Mir both make their respective pro boxing debuts on the show after making names for themselves on the UFC circuit.
The April 17 event marks the second PPV venture for Triller since infiltrating the boxing market last fall. The social media app made a splash with its well-publicized show last November, topped by an eight-round exhibition match between ring legends Mike Tyson and Roy Jones which generated more than 1.6 million buys to land in the Top 10 best selling combat sports PPV events of all time.
Paul appeared on that Nov. 28 card, scoring a 2nd round knockout of former NBA superstar Nate Robinson.
Triller Fight Club also secured the rights to the World lightweight championship between lineal king and unified WBA/IBF/WBO titlist Teofimo Lopez (16-0, 12KOs) and IBF mandatory challenger George Kambosos Jr. (19-0, 10KOs) with a winning bid of $6,018,000. The bout is being targeted for a separate Triller PPV show in May.
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox