SHOWTIME BOXING: EDISI KHUSUS Ditayangkan Pada 10 p.m. DAN/PT Dari Deadwood Mountain Grand di Deadwood, South Dakota
HOUSTON (Februari. 15, 2018) – Undefeated 140-pound contender Regis “Rougarou” Prograis remains focused on the prize despite the recent change in opponent for his Bulan Maret 9 showdown for the Interim WBC Super Lightweight World Championship. Prograis will now face former unified world champion Julius Indongo in the 12-round main event of a SHOWTIME BOXING: EDISI KHUSUS tayang pada SHOWTIME pukul 10 p.m. DAN/PT dari Deadwood Mountain Grand di Deadwood, South Dakota.
The southpaw Indongo replaced Viktor Postol, who was forced to withdraw from the bout pada hari Senin with a hand injury.
“Lou called and told me about what happened to Viktor Postol and that Indongo could be the new opponent and I said yes immediately,"Kata Prograis. “I always want to fight the best and with Indongo being a former unified champion, he brings a great deal of credibility to the fight. Both of his titles were won on the road in Russia and Scotland, so I know how fearless and determined he will be.
“I had to switch up my training a little for sparring with Indongo being a lefty and a little taller, but I’m sparring with middleweights. I’ve heard how hard he hits and I want to be fully prepared. Maybe down the line Postol and I could still fight, but I’m only focused on Indongo now. This is my time and my year to shine. I’m ready to put on a spectacular performance on Bulan Maret 9."
“This fight came together in a matter of two phone calls – one to Prograis and one to Indongo – and that speaks volumes about the championship mentality of both fighters,Kata Lou DiBella, Presiden DiBella Hiburan. “Prograis wanted to fight the best fighter available, even if that fighter presented a different style and was recently a unified champion. Indongo immediately jumped at the opportunity to again be a champion. They are true professionals and their desire to fight will be evident in the ring.”
Acara tersebut dibawakan oleh DiBella Entertainment, in association with Fight Promotions Inc., Promosi Holden Productions dan Sauerland. Tiket, harga $200, $80 dan $60, are on sale now and can be purchased on Ticketmaster.com or by calling (877) 907-4726. Pintu terbuka dan pertarungan pertama dimulai 5:30 p.m. More information on Deadwood Mountain Grand can be found on their website at www.DeadwoodMountainGrand.com.
Fighting out of Namibia and now training in Omaha, NE, Indongo (22-1, 11 Biaya) is a former unified champion who held the IBF and WBA 140-pound titles.
Di 2016, Indongo traveled to Moscow, Rusia, to dethrone IBF Junior Welterweight Champion Eduard Troyanovsky with a stunning first-round knockout. In his first defense, Indongo traveled to Glasgow, Skotlandia, for a unification bout with WBA Champion Ricky Burns. The 35-year-old won a 12-round unanimous decision to become unified champion.
In his first bout as a unified titleholder, Indongo made his U.S. debut against fellow undefeated and unified champion Terence Crawford in a showdown to determine the undisputed champion of the 140-pound division. It was the first championship bout with all four major world titles at stake since Jermain Taylor dethroned Bernard Hopkins in 2005. Indongo lost to Crawford to suffer the only defeat of his professional career.
PROGRAM (20-0, 17 Biaya), dari Houston dengan cara New Orleans, telah mencetak KO di 13 dari terakhirnya 14 berkelahi dan merupakan bintang yang sedang naik daun di divisi 140 pon terbuka lebar. Indongo represents the toughest challenge of his career.
Dalam 12 ronde co-fitur, pesaing berat 140 pound yang tak terkalahkan Ivan Baranchyk (17-0, 10 Biaya) dan Anthony Yigit (21-0-1, 7 Biaya) akan bertanding di Eliminator Gelar Juara Dunia Kelas Welter Junior untuk menjadi penantang wajib juara IBF Sergey Lipinets. Lipinets akan mempertahankan sabuknya pada hari berikutnya, Bulan Maret 10, di SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® melawan juara tiga divisi tak terkalahkan Mikey Garcia.