_2020_10_23_042948.jpg)
Regis Prograis feels like he is the odd man out in the junior welterweight class.
The 140-pound contender from New Orleans recently blew off some steam in a video posted on his social media account in which he decried his divisional rivals for refusing to acknowledge him.
Prograis, a former titlist who lives in Houston, seemed to take exception to a recent Twitter exchange that saw former unified lightweight titlist Teofimo Lopez and contender Jack Catterall float the idea of fighting one another. Lopez, responding to a report that suggested he will make his 140-pound debut against Pedro Campa, claimed that former champion Jose Ramirez and current unified champion Josh Taylor had no interest in fighting him.
Not mentioned in the dialogue was Prograis, who apparently took exception to that omission.
“Nobody ever says my f——- name,” Prograis said. “Be honest. You never hear nobody ever say my name at all. There’s a reason. I don’t box n—–. I f— n—–. up. You know what I’m saying? On top of that if you really look at my sh!t, if you look at my record, everybody I’ve ever fought they saw the doctor, right?
“Cuz I’m not going out there to box you, I’m going out there to hurt n—–. I’m going out there to mess people up. That’s what I do. So I heard that they’re talking about other people looking for opponents at 140 and all that sh!t. Bro, nobody say my name. Nobody say my name at all. Nobody saying my name at all. Nobody wanna f— with me.
“C’mon man, don’t play with me. Lil boy don’t f — with me. My famous lil quote: These lil boys at 140 cannot f— with me. And I’m the best, and I’mma keep proving it.”
After Prograi’s rant was posted, Lopez responded on Twitter by seemingly endorsing the idea of fighting the Louisianan down the road.
“I like it, Picasso!,” Lopez wrote. “This division is going to be entertaining [handshake emoji] #140Takeover See you all very soon.”
Prograis, 33, last fought in March, stopping Tyrone McKenna in the sixth round at the Duty Free Tennis Stadium in Dubai in the co-feature of a card promoted by Probellum. Prograis signed with the new boxing outfit, led by longtime industry fixture Richard Schaefer, last year.
Prograis’ career has admittedly seemed uninspired and after his close points loss to Josh Taylor in a 140-pound unification bout in the World Boxing Super Series Finals. In addition to McKenna, Prograis has since taken on the overmatched likes of Ivan Redkach and Juan Heraldez, earning early stoppages over both.