Bradley’s take: Designing a winning strategy for Regis Prograis and Devin Haney

The Rougarou is a mythical creature that emerges from dreams, embodying a werewolf-like, fearless humanoid beast. Louisiana natives have long spoken of its existence, claiming its whereabouts in the swamps and the bayous, illustrating various forms to trap bold, disobedient prey.

But New Orleans’ Regis Prograis — known as the Rougarou in the boxing realm — is no mere folktale. He is rigid, rugged and smooth — all at the same time. He represents raw punching power with finesse and excellent footwork from the southpaw stance. And now he’s taking on the biggest challenge of his career, a bout against ESPN’s No. 7 pound-for-pound fighter, Devin Haney, whom Prograis is fighting Saturday.

Haney, whose inner fire burns with the promise of greatness, has ascended from the 135-pound division, where he was the undisputed champion, and quickly fixed his eyes on Prograis, the extraordinary 140-pound WBC junior welterweight champion. Haney, the challenger this time, is pursuing his dream of becoming a two-division world champion.

Prograis, even as the champion, is not only fighting to retain his belt, but fighting for respect. The junior welterweight division is the best in boxing today, forged with a talented group of extraordinary champions, dynamic contenders, and marketable names like Teofimo Lopez Jr. and Ryan Garcia. But this division is not just about the present; it carries a profound legacy of unforgettable battles that have left a mark on the sport’s history.

Think back to the legendary battles that have graced this weight class throughout history. The epic duel between Julio Cesar Chavez Sr. and Meldrick Taylor. The breathtaking trilogy between Arturo Gatti and “Irish” Micky Ward, fights that epitomize why we love the sport: blood, sweat, heart and guts displayed by two legends. Prograis and Haney hope to add to the 140-pound weight class’ rich history as many boxing pundits, including myself, see this affair as a 50-50 pick ’em fight.

The matchup

Prograis-Haney is a fascinating matchup, blending contrasting styles of strengths and uncovered weaknesses that promise to be a high-speed chess match with a suspenseful feeling. Prograis (29-1, 24 KOs) is a southpaw boxer-puncher with a sophisticated mix of technique, devastating punching power and innovative pressure. However, his performance against former champion Josh Taylor in 2019 demonstrated a vulnerability to calculated offensive pressure. Taylor took advantage of Prograis’ aggression, bumping him onto his heels when fighting inside and inhibiting his ability to sustain a potent attack. Despite his incredible skill set, Prograis has shown limitations when he is outmaneuvered and unable to cut off the ring, as evidenced in his previous bout against Danielito Zorrilla. After dropping Zorrilla in Round 3, Prograis was unable to get close enough the rest of the fight to land his offense.

Haney (30-0, 15 KOs) is an undefeated prodigy, but his performances against southpaws reveal a disruption in his rhythm particularly affects his jab due to the open stance dynamic of a lefty versus righty. This alignment creates an obstacle for Haney’s jab, a critical component of his arsenal. Despite this, Haney’s adaptability shines through, as seen in his battle against Vasiliy Lomachenko, where he successfully applied pressure for most of the fight.

Still, when Haney was under intense pressure, particularly during the 10th and 11th rounds — two defining moments for Lomachenko — Haney appeared vulnerable, disoriented and confused.

Interestingly, the stress of receiving pressure and being forced onto their back foot is a shared weakness for both fighters.

Haney may have another disadvantage, and that lack of punching power can’t be ignored. Prograis is the slam dunk leader in this department and upon any 50-50 (equal positioning) exchanges, Prograis will have the advantage. I remember Haney’s grit and mental toughness displayed during his fight with Jorge Linares, where he stood and traded punches, being momentarily left on shaky legs, but recovering rapidly. Against Prograis, such a strategy may prove more threatening.

This matchup presents styles and approaches where both fighters have strengths and vulnerabilities. The fight’s result will likely come down to who can best exploit their opponent’s weaknesses while minimizing their own. More importantly, can Haney handle the firepower of the champion?

If I was training Prograis…

I would prioritize creating a consistent, intelligent pressure strategy, emphasizing on neutralizing Haney’s jab with lead hand controls, persistently staying on top of his jab and forcing him to utilize his backhand. As a southpaw, Regis has faced right-hand punches in numerous variations throughout his career, so invite Haney to use the right hand and then exploit it. Haney executes different variations — a straight right to the body, a straight right up, a looping right, and a right uppercut. I would prepare Prograis to counter all these variations. Another focal point would be cutting off the ring and restricting Haney’s lateral movement. Haney’s legs are the core of his tactical operations, providing him with safety and escape routes. Training Prograis to stay one step ahead of Haney and to anticipate his movements, rather than his current position, would either help him to stop Haney or temporarily constrain him.

I would also devise strategies to break clinches, as Haney isn’t exceptionally skilled at inside fighting. Haney relies heavily on clinching, stopping any momentum built by his opponents. To avoid those clinches, it’s essential not to extend your arms. A clincher seeks something to seize and hold onto. I would instruct Prograis to keep his hands nestled close to his body, similar to tucking in his elbows to defend against a body shot. This would keep his hands free during clinches, enabling him to work in close range with body shots, uppercuts and the use of his hard control tactic of frames (lining up a punch with a forearm or glove) for a powershot.

We should remember that Haney is transitioning from 135 pounds. I would have Prograis employ superior physical controls, pushing up or down on the head and body, to bully Haney within the pocket, taking him out of his comfort zone.

I would insist Prograis starts fast to seize control early on, landing a powerful punch to send a clear message to Haney. Lastly, I would develop a double left hand followed by a right hook combination, with the hook thrown at the shoulder in case Haney drops levels after the double left. Haney’s escape route against Lomachenko was a strong side (towards southpaw left) step-around pivot evading Lomachenko’s straight lefts. Once Lomachenko made the proper adjustment against Haney, Lomachenko used a double left hand, the first toward his head and the second toward the new position of his head. Adding a right hook after the left hands is insurance, just in case Haney fixed this flaw.

If I was training Haney…

The task would be to outfox Prograis through evasive maneuvers strategically, not getting on his bicycle prematurely but through impeccable positioning. I would advise him to avoid 50-50 exchanges. We would use probing jabs as lures and integrate convincing feints. Prograis’ footwork exhibits a lack of discipline. Haney should double down on feinting to unbalance Prograis and occasionally induce him to lunge with his offense. This makes the classic move of stepping back and launching a counterattack highly available for Haney. Notably, Prograis struggles to move effectively toward his left or Haney’s right hand. Therefore, training Haney to modify his angles, moving left and setting traps while moving right, should incite a left hand from the shorter-armed Prograis (4 inches shorter), enabling a counterattack.

Training on the double-end bag would be crucial to equip Haney for Prograis’ elusive head movement. Timing is of the essence here, and the champion has a particular tell — a hint of his next move before he launches his jab. This involves shifting his head slots, altering his head and upper body movement from left to right, and vice versa, before throwing a jab. I would coach Haney to anticipate these pauses during these sequences with his own jabs, right hands and jab-hook combinations.

In most bouts, clinching is a tool. Haney is a master of the clinch, using it tactically to his advantage. Yet, I would further enhance his clinch game. I once learned a tactic from the esteemed Teddy Atlas that starts with a clinch and progresses to guiding your opponent back to the center of the ring. This allows the fighter to reclaim territory and regain control of the ring’s center. To refine this tactic, I would teach a rapid clinch or tie-up, walk-him-back, quick-release fire offensive strategy. This would catch Prograis off guard and subtly drain his energy as he naturally resists. I would equip Haney to anticipate left-hand-looping hooks and straights, as Prograis’ left hand is known for its devastating power.

The mindset I would instill in Haney is that we do not win titles, we take them! I would advise him to remain disciplined, turn off his greed and stick to the tactics that brought him success. Boxing and controlling the center of the ring, only taking risks when absolutely necessary.

Who wins?

The past is a distant memory, although it’s hard to forget when a fighter suffers a devastating blow or a knockdown. Prograis tasted the canvas in his last fight against Zorrilla, even if they didn’t count as knockdowns, while Haney weathered multiple storms against Lomachenko. This question lingers heavily: Can Haney hurt Prograis with the added weight or fend him off for 12 rounds? Yet, one thing is sure — Prograis possesses the power to inflict damage upon Haney — should he find the mark. Haney can outbox Prograis. He has more skills and talent, but Prograis’s punching power and southpaw stance give him a massive chance of catching Haney, hurting him, and finishing him.

Based on Haney’s superior footwork, movement and jab, as well as his youth, consistent offense and extensive amateur background, he appears to have the advantage. The smart bet is Haney winning by decision, but if Prograis can outwork, pressure, corner and hurt Haney, he too can win this fight.

I’m going with Prograis with the upset, turning the dream into a nightmare.