Prograis Skirts by Zorrilla in New Orleans; A Shocker on the Undercard

Whether it was hometown jitters or a phantom knockdown, Regis Prograis chased Puerto Rico’s Danielito Zorrilla and escaped with a split-decision victory to retain the WBC super lightweight title in New Orleans on Saturday.

Now on to the marquee fights.

For the first time in nearly five years Prograis (29-1, 24 KOs) fought in his hometown but discovered Zorrilla (17-2, 13 KOs) was not willing to serve as dessert for fans at the Smoothie King Center.

In the opening frame Zorrilla struck first with a sneak lead right that seemed to drop Prograis. But as the Puerto Rican fighter charged forward to follow up, he was wrapped up and tackled down. It appeared later on replay that it could have been declared a knockdown.

Even Prograis admitted as much. It was also the reason he hesitated to attack with his usual abandon after absorbing the Boricua’s sizzling right.

“I know he had the right hand, he caught me with it,” said Prograis.

Despite fearing Zorrilla’s right, the New Orleans native resumed attacking the taller and rangier fighter. In the third round Prograis connected with a long overhand left and down went Zorrilla on his back.

Zorrilla recovered quickly and began moving to his right for the remainder of the fight.

Fighting mainly in a counter-puncher mode, Zorrilla dared Prograis to enter the fire zone. And when it happened that sneak right and left hook awaited the local hero. And when Prograis connected, Zorrilla jumped on his scooter and moved around the ring until the last several seconds. Then he would connect with a right or left from long range and win the round as he did in the fifth.

It drew boos from the crowd, but it was the strategy used for most of the title fight.

“We chose Zorilla. We chose him because we thought he came to fight.,” said Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn. “He just ran. He never tried to win the fight.”

Though never anxious to engage, the threat of Zorrilla’s big right hammer kept Prograis from charging recklessly.

The last three rounds were the same as the earlier rounds with Prograis trying to get into range to score with power blows. Zorrilla never allowed more than a combination or two until the fight ended.

After 12 rounds one judge scored it for Zorrilla 114-113, but two others saw Prograis the winner by scores of 118-109 and 117-110. Prograis keeps the WBC title and now can face one of many marquee fighters available such as Devin Haney, Ryan Garcia, Teofimo Lopez or others.

“Like I said, it was a tough win. But just to see all my people out there I’m glad I brought it back here,” said Prograis. “Now I got to go back and work on some things.”

Julissa Guzman Shocks Ramla Ali

In a battle for a regional WBA super bantamweight title Mexico’s Julissa Guzman (13-2-2, 7 KOs) knocked out England’s Ramla Ali (8-1, 2 KOs) in the eighth round. It was a shocking upset for the previously undefeated former Olympian.

Ali’s team had arranged for her to fight the current WBC super bantamweight titlist Yamileth Mercado, if she won. Instead, it was Guzman who already fought the champion years ago and lost by decision.

Guzman suffered a fractured right forearm during her battle for the title against Mercado and fought until the end. But the injury put her on the shelf for two years. She returned to the prize ring last month and won by knockout. She was signed to face Ali on four weeks notice. It was plenty of time.

Ali had a speed advantage and used it wisely for the first two rounds. But it was evident that Guzman was using those rounds to gauge the timing of the Somalia native. Though she was absorbing combinations from Ali she was able to connect sporadically.

Everything turned around in the third round as Guzman connected multiple times with right hand counters that bounced off the noggin of Ali. The punches shook her legs.

Guzman dominated the fourth round with right after right. Ali tried to stand her ground but was met with powerful blows from the Mexican fighter. It was not wise for Ali to fight toe to toe and her corner advised her to box.

Ali was winning the fifth round but boxing and landing pot shots. But toward the end of the round she attempted a combination and was caught in-between with another counter right cross and down she went. She got up but was obviously dazed.

After warnings from her trainer to stay in boxing mode, Ali won the sixth by fighting at distance. It was her best round but still caught a right that wobbled her.

Ali seemed shook and not clear-headed in the eighth round. She received instructions but seemed listless. As she jabbed and fired a combination Ali was caught with a left hook she did not see. Down she went as if shot and could not beat the count.

Ali reached out to the referee as if to help her up and was counted out by referee Keith Hughes at 42 seconds of the eighth round. Guzman was ecstatic. Ali needed time to recuperate.

Ginny Fuchs wins

US Olympian Ginny Fuchs (3-0) willingly fought always tough Indeya Smith (6-8-2) and used sharp jabs and angles to defuse the constant charges of the smaller fighter in an eight round super flyweight match. All three judges scored it for Fuchs 80-72 twice and 79-73.

Welterweight eliminator

Shakhram Giyasov (14-0, 9 KOs) won a listless 12-round snoozer against Florida’s Harold Calderon (27-0, 18 KOs) by unanimous decision 120-108, 118-110, 116-112. Few moments were entertaining.

Giyasov was content to land single shots and Calderon was unwilling to take chances. Fans booed the timid affair.

Lightweights

Lightweight Jeremy Hill (19-3, 12 KOs) was in a tight struggle against Mark Davis (19-2) and then turned on the aggression and caught the shorter fighter with a looping right that sent him dangling through the ropes. As soon as Davis untangled himself, he was met with a crisp three-punch combination. They all connected and Davis collapsed to the floor. The referee Terry Boudreaux did not bother to count and ended the fight at 1:29 of the fourth round in the battle between two Louisiana fighters.

Photo credit: Ed Mulholland / MATCHROOM

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