Regis Prograis, DiBella Entertainment Finalizing Separation Agreement

[Ruthless-RKO]

Regis Prograis, DiBella Entertainment In Process Of Finalizing Separation Agreement

Regis Prograis is about to become the sport’s most sought-after free agent.

The former junior welterweight titlist and his team are in the process of finalizing a separation agreement with DiBella Entertainment, founded and headed by Hall of Fame promoter Lou DiBella. The move comes as the two had one fight left on their promotional agreement, though with Prograis out of the ring since a heartbreaking loss to Josh Taylor (16-0, 12KOs) in their 140-pound title unification clash last October and now looking to take his career in another direction.

The Athletic’s Mike Coppinger was the first to reveal the development.

News of the split comes somewhat of a surprise given their strong working relationship together. Through his time under the DBE banner, Prograis (24-1, 20KOs) was able to make his way to Showtime’s ShoBox series where he quickly emerged as one of the sport’s brightest young contenders.

The journey led to Prograis—managed by Sam Katkovski—challenging for and claiming the WBA junior welterweight title, in a 6th round knockout of Kiryl Relikh last April in Lafayette, Louisiana, two hours from New Orleans birthtown. The win came as part of the World Boxing Super Series tournament, which saw DiBella at his most passionate and loyal.

As the tournament was marred with financial issues, Prograis was forced to threaten legal action in order to receive his due compensation heading into his WBSS final pairing with Scotland’s Taylor. The matter caused a delay in the tournament, though ultimately resolved—and as it now stands, their last fight together under contract.

“Every positive thing I ever said about Regis, I still believe,” DiBella stated on Monday through his verified Twitter account. “We had a real good run together and I look forward to watching him do big things in the future.

“We always have been, and always will be, cool.”

Boxing Scene has learned that the separation will include financial compensation for the promoter in lieu of the remaining fight on their contract together.

A deal was once in place for Prograis to have fought Maurice Hooker in a pairing of former 140-pound titlists this past April in Oxon Hill, Maryland. The event would have served as the final bout under contract with DBE, but was instead wiped out due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Efforts to reschedule the fight proved futile, as Hooker—now aiming to compete as a welterweight—refused to come down far enough in weight to accommodate Prograis, who still plans to contend at 140 pounds. The bout was already designated to take place at a catchweight of 143-pounds, but ultimately fell apart due to Hooker’s refusal to budge when it came to renegotiate terms.

From there came whispers that Prograis and DiBella would never again enter a ring together, though—as noted by DiBella—the split comes on amicable terms as Prograis believes this is a move necessary to his fighting future. The 31-year old southpaw—who split time between New Orleans and Houston but now lives in Los Angeles—is angling for a fight in the fourth quarter of 2020, and with hopes of re-emerging in the title picture in 2021.

It’s a crowded field at the moment, with Taylor and Jose Ramirez (25-0, 17KOs) owning all of the relevant hardware at junior welterweight and both saddled with mandatory challenges even before thinking about unification. Still, Prograis remains a highly attractive option to any outlet, especially now with everyone back in business even amidst the ongoing pandemic.

The bidding war will undoubtedly begin, as Prograis remains an attractive option to any outlet—DAZN, Showtime, Fox Sports or ESPN. Wherever he next lands, it will be without his longtime promoter and friend along for the ride.

“First off I just want to say thank you to Lou DiBella and the whole DBE promotional company,” Prograis told BS in a provided statement. “Lou took a chance with me when nobody else wanted me. I built a name for myself in the boxing world and won my first world championship with Lou.

“DiBella will always be like family to me. But now the time had come for us to part ways. I’m excited to see what’s in store for my future in this next part of my career.”

[Ruthless-RKO]

If he wants to fight the best at 147, he needs to go with PBC.

Unless he signs a 2-3 fight deal with Top Rank which gets him Crawford.. Nothing too long term..

Then goes with PBC.

[Enlightened-One]

A few weeks ago Lou DiBella admitted he feared for the survival of his promotional company.

He was also blacklisted (at least temporarily) from the PBC, Showtime and Fox, because he tried to negotiate a multi-fight deal for Deontay Wilder to make the jump to DAZN.

DiBella essentially tried to weaken his business partners by trying to orchestrate a move for one of their most prized assets to make the jump to one of their biggest rivals, without their involvement.

So this termination of their working relationship isn't unexpected.

I suspect Prograis will decide to remain a free agent, to keep his options open.

A few months ago, Regis expressed his disinterest in joining Top Rank, because he didn’t want to place himself in the same predicament Terence Crawford is experiencing (i.e. no decent opponents to face).

Also, a couple of years ago Prograis claimed that he rejected an opportunity to sign with Al Haymon, because he feared he’d simply be considered “just one of the fighters” on an already massive PBC roster. He also said that he wanted to compete more frequently than Haymon’s fighters typically fight.

I can’t see him joining GBP, since they rarely work with the PBC.

Matchroom might be a decent proposition though, since Eddie Hearn has proven himself as being capable to work with any promoter (not named Fṛḁṅk Wḁṛṛḛṅ), but this might not be feasible if DAZN has to sanction and invest in this acquisition for their stable.

To be perfectly honest with you, the Boxing Scene article has speculated that there’ll be a bidding war to acquire the services of Prograis, but I doubt this will be the case.

There aren’t that many fight cards being televised at the moment, the limited amount of events being staged at the moment won’t attract much live gate receipt revenue and all the promotional companies are already attempting to overcome a difficult challenge fulfilling their current obligations to keep their existing roster of fighters busy.

We also need to remember (for at least four months) the various promotional companies would have incurred expenses for cancelling events, employees being furloughed or laid off, as well as not receiving any revenue whatsoever. So there might not be any money to fund a bidding war.

[Onetimeonly]

Oh sweet verlichte, you've always chastised me for mentioning prograis as a future 147 option and here you go. At least you learn my docile virgin peasant.

Nobody in their right mind would sign with dazn now.

[Onetimeonly]

Oh sweet verlichte, you've always chastised me for mentioning prograis as a future 147 option and here you go. At least you learn my docile virgin peasant.

Nobody in their right mind would sign with dazn now.

[jujigatame]

I guess I would prefer he go with TR just because that's where most of the top guys at 140 are. Even Baranchyk and Zepeda, who I don't think are exclusively TR guys, were going to fight on a TR-promoted card before COVID fucked it up.

[H8Usernames]

Never heard of the guy or the guy that beat him. As for Dibella perhaps he should apply at HBO to get his old job back.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Never heard of the guy or the guy that beat him. As for Dibella perhaps he should apply at HBO to get his old job back.

Peter Nelson is finally resigning from HBO Sports.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Never heard of the guy or the guy that beat him. As for Dibella perhaps he should apply at HBO to get his old job back.

You never heard of Prograis? Or Taylor?

[H8Usernames]

Never heard of the guy or the guy that beat him. As for Dibella perhaps he should apply at HBO to get his old job back.

You never heard of Prograis? Or Taylor?

Maybe I have seen those names floating around, never paid any attention to them though and then you look at their lilly fights, no wonder nobody cares about these dudes.

[Enlightened-One]

Never heard of the guy or the guy that beat him. As for Dibella perhaps he should apply at HBO to get his old job back.

You never heard of Prograis? Or Taylor?

Maybe I have seen those names floating around, never paid any attention to them though and then you look at their lilly fights, no wonder nobody cares about these dudes.

I assume that you don't really follow the sport of boxing?

Didn't you previously claim that David Haye gave Nikolai Valuev "such a bad beating that he beat him into retirement" (your words).

And didn't you also argue that Mahmoud Charr beat Vitali Klitschko into retirement too?

[H8Usernames]

You never heard of Prograis? Or Taylor?

Maybe I have seen those names floating around, never paid any attention to them though and then you look at their lilly fights, no wonder nobody cares about these dudes.

I assume that you don't really follow the sport of boxing?

Didn't you previously claim that David Haye gave Nikolai Valuev "such a bad beating that he beat him into retirement" (your words).

And didn't you also argue that Mahmoud Charr beat Vitali Klitschko into retirement too?

Ah yes, you have a very good eye for humor/sarcasm. But back to the original point Prograis and Taylor. Why should I watch a couple of losers with zero talent?

[Counter-puncher]

Obvious troll is trolling obviously

[Jeff_lacy_ko]

DiBella made Wilder a very wealthy man and is going to lose his business for his troubles

As for Prograis TR has Crawford and aome 140 talent.... pbc owns most 147. He has options