Josh Taylor gets the better of Regis Prograis with majority decision

The World Boxing Super Series super lightweight tournament came to a close. Josh Taylor and Regis Prograis battled in a close bout, but only one could win.

The World Boxing Super Series super lightweight tournament almost didn’t finish, but Josh Taylor and Regis Prograis met in the finale on Saturday, Oct. 26. They were undefeated coming in, but one boxer left with a loss on his record.

Prograis and Taylor postured for the first 40 seconds of round 1, but Prograis landed the first punch, which was a jab. Taylor had a hard time landing until the last minute. He connected on a combination, but Prograis stayed calm and content to box.

Both men boxed well in round 2. When in close, Prograis scored to the body, but Taylor got his shots in too. They went back and forth for much of the round. Taylor invested to the body in the last minute, and the crowd showed their approval.

Prograis and Taylor exchanged low body punches early in round 3. Prograis looked more comfortable and scored consistently with the jab. His defense looked better than in past fights, and his head movement gave Taylor problems.

Prograis pushed Taylor back with the jab in round 4. He became the aggressor, but Taylor held his ground eventually and showed fast hands. Prograis’ jab was a tripwire that scored at will. It won him the round.

Round 5 saw Prograis control the first half of the round. Taylor rallied midway through, and his jab started to connect. They exchanged left hooks, but it was Taylor who moved back.

Taylor’s hands were fluid to begin the sixth round. He couldn’t keep up the pace, and Prograis’ jab steadily scored. Prograis looked for power punches, but couldn’t land them cleanly.

Taylor got the crowd excited quickly in round 7. His jab hit Prograis like a power punch. Prograis weathered the storm. He tried to connect on left hands to the body but missed badly. Prograis looked frustrated, and the tide was turning in Taylor’s favor.

Between rounds, Prograis’ nose trickled blood. It was controlled but showed the toll Taylor’s punches took on him in the previous round.

Prograis landed jabs to start round 8, but there was no power on them. Taylor methodically advanced but seldom threw punches. He was pacing his punch count and ripped a right to Prograis’ body. Prograis thudded Taylor’s head with an overhand left that was his best punch of the fight.

Prograis hit Taylor with a glancing left cross to begin round 9. Taylor tagged Prograis’ body with a left that brought his hands down slightly. Taylor excited the crowd with a right hook that moved Prograis’ head. He was breaking Prograis down and taking over the fight.

In round 10, Taylor bounced on his toes, and Prograis looked a little lost. His broken nose made him breathe out of his mouth, and he lacked confidence. Taylor hit Prograis while in close with a left uppercut. His in-fighting was impressive and got the better of Prograis. All of the eye-catching punches came from Taylor.

Taylor’s hands looked fresh in round 11. Prograis looked slow, but he showed heart by continuing to punch. His eyes were swollen and he looked off-balance at times. Prograis had a cut open up over his right eye. Taylor’s hands were heavier and hurt Prograis, though he tried not to show it.

Round 12 was a war. They traded at center ring, but Prograis’ legs didn’t look good. Taylor’s right eye was badly swollen. He looked hurt for the first time of the fight. Prograis should be commended for his spirit. He tried to knock out Taylor with every punch knowing he was behind in the cards. It was his best round of the fight and one of the better rounds of the year.

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The judges returned scores of 114-114, 115-113, 117-112 giving Taylor the majority decision victory. Taylor won the fight but not by a 117-112 margin. Regardless, he now has the WBA and IBF titles.

Taylor wasted no time calling out Jose Ramirez, who controls the WBC and WBO titles. The winner of that bout would fully unify the division. That would be a tremendous bout, but don’t be surprised if Taylor and Prograis run this one back.