BoxRec

Press Release

Probellum returns to Dubai in March for an action-packed weekend of elite-level boxing staged over two consecutive nights with a card featuring a combination of current and former world champions, Olympic medalists and hugely talented young fighters.

Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium, located at The Irish Village, in association with Jumeirah Creekside Hotel, will host Probellum’s first shows of the year - and one of the UAE’s biggest-ever boxing showcases - on March 18 and 19.

The main and co-main event for night one will be announced this week, while two fantastic bouts top the bill on the second night, with IBF flyweight champion Sunny Edwards (17-0, 4 knockouts), from the UK, defending his title against Muhammad Waseem (12-1, 8 knockouts), one of Pakistan’s biggest boxing stars, in the headline contest.

That will be preceded by an intriguing clash between Ireland’s WBO intercontinental super-lightweight champion Tyrone McKenna (22-2-1, 6 knockouts) and Regis Prograis (26-1, 22 knockouts), the American former super-lightweight world champion who signed to Probellum in October.

Probellum heads back to Dubai following its successful inaugural event, which took place at the Coca-Cola Arena in December, hosted by legendary ring announcer Michael Buffer.

“We are absolutely delighted to be returning to Dubai for our first event of 2022,” said Richard Schaefer, President of Probellum.

“Probellum has made a huge impact in the boxing world in a short period and we have some major plans for this year, starting with these two history-making shows in Dubai.

“There was a fantastic response to our first-ever event, which took place in Dubai at the end of last year, and we know there is a big appetite for boxing in the city.

“These two shows will feature many top-quality fighters from around the world, including Sunny Edwards, Muhammad Waseem, Tyrone McKenna, and Regis Prograis. We would encourage fans to secure tickets early in order to ensure they don’t miss out on what will undoubtedly be another fantastic event.”

With the shows taking place over St Patrick’s Day weekend, there will be an Irish theme to proceedings and more of the country’s most impressive boxers, in addition to McKenna, are set to be confirmed for the event over the coming weeks.

In the lead-up to the event there will be a week-long programme of entertainment including public workouts, press conferences and weigh-ins, along with a series of activations, while The Irish Village will be introducing special offers for those fans who purchase tickets for Fight Night.

McKenna has played a blinder

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑25 Jan 2022, 15:06 McKenna has played a blinder

Not sure he'll be thinking that mid-fight I know what you mean though.

This really a grudge match?

Didn’t know they had Beef?

mimoune gets totally shafted vs mckenna, then goes nowhere, while mckenna keeps getting good opportunities. that's boxing for ya

Press Release

Former WBA 140-lb champion Regis Prograis will be facing #11Tyrone McKenna in the chief support bout on March 19th on the undercard of IBF flyweight champion Sunny Edwards vs. Muhammad Waseem at the Duty Free Tennis Stadium in Dubai.

Prograis (26-1, 22 KOs) says the reason he’s fighting McKenna (22-2-1, 6 KOs) is that the British fighter has been trash-talking him on Twitter.

Boxing fans would have preferred that Prograis fight a higher-caliber opponent, but unfortunately, the former WBA light welterweight champion hasn’t fought a quality guy since 2019.

The 33-year-old Prograis finds himself fighting on Edwards’ undercard mainly because he hasn’t kept himself in the limelight since losing his WBA light welterweight title to Josh Taylor in October 2019.

Prograis has fought only once a year since his loss to Taylor, beating Juan Heraldez in 2020 and Ivan Redkach in 2021.

If Prograis continues with his habit of fighting yearly, his fight with the 31-year-old McKenna on March 19th will be his only activity in 2022.

Prograis won’t be getting another title shot for many years at this pace. Fighting once a year against lesser opposition has resulted in Prograis not being moved up the 140-lb rankings the way he needs to get another title shot.

Prograis is ranked #3 WBC, #6 WBA, and #7 WBO. While that may seem like good rankings, it’s not when you realize that Prograis lost his WBA title three years ago in 2019.

By this time, Prograis should already have been in a position to fight for a world title, but he’s not stayed busy enough since his fight with Taylor.

Whether he’s been enjoying the money he made from the Taylor fight or hasn’t had the desire to fight two to three years a year is unknown. It’s too bad because it’s a shame to see Prograis wasting his once-promising career with him fighting annually like Gary Russell Jr.

“I just got the good news. The fight date has been announced on March 19th in Dubai,” said Regis Prograis on social media on Tuesday in revealing his next fight against 31-year-old McKenna.

“A lot of people ask me when is my next fight date? Well, guess what, here it is. March 19th in Dubai. That’s two months away. All my people that want to come out there, get your s*** together.

“Get your tickets, get everything. Get your passports, tickets, vaccines, cards, whatever you need to get. Get your s*** together. Look, I’ve been to Dubai, Dubai is a long way away, but it’s 100% worth it when you get there, for sure.

“Fight or not fight; it’s 100% worth it when you get to Dubai. So, on March 19th in Dubai. The dude I’m fighting [Tyrone McKenna], he’s been talking a little s*** online, on Twitter, so I’m about to go over there and punish his a**.

“So all my people, y’all come out, show love and come support on March 19th in Dubai,” said Prograis.

McKenna is coming off a 10 round decision win over Jose Felix last August. In McKenna’s fight before that, he lost to Ohara Davies by a 10 round majority decision in September 2020.

McKenna’s only other career loss came against Jack Catterall in a 10 round unanimous decision defeat in June 2018.

Fcuking garbage fight. Same as Ortiz v Mckinson.

The fights that could be getting made across the pond in and around 130 to 147 is insane but its just constant mis-matches.

Prograis got a bit screwed over waiting for Mikey Garcia, but why not fight the kid who beat Mikey? Only seen Mckenna fight twice- Davies and Mimoune - he was pretty dire both times TBH.

Bigdogsnose wrote: ↑26 Jan 2022, 08:28 Fcuking garbage fight. Same as Ortiz v Mckinson.

The fights that could be getting made across the pond in and around 130 to 147 is insane but its just constant mis-matches.

Prograis got a bit screwed over waiting for Mikey Garcia, but why not fight the kid who beat Mikey? Only seen Mckenna fight twice- Davies and Mimoune - he was pretty dire both times TBH.

Why not McKenna vs. McKinson and Prograis vs. Ortiz ?

Aye, different weights like but would make more sense to have competitive domestic scraps rather than across the pond mismatches.

Avanesyan was Ortiz's mandatory. Dont know what happened there but that would have been a much better fight. I like Ortiz, think Ennis is gonna be the bollocks but they fights like this dont help.

Prograis could fight Ramirez. That would be a great fight.

Bigdogsnose wrote: ↑26 Jan 2022, 08:36
Prograis could fight Ramirez. That would be a great fight.

Shame this was never made.

Prog was interim champion and Ramirez was the actual champion at one point.

Shame Ramirez didn't want to enter the WBSS, but either way, he unified against Hooker anyway and fought the winner.

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑26 Jan 2022, 08:49

Bigdogsnose wrote: ↑26 Jan 2022, 08:36
Prograis could fight Ramirez. That would be a great fight.

Shame this was never made.

Prog was interim champion and Ramirez was the actual champion at one point.

Shame Ramirez didn't want to enter the WBSS, but either way, he unified against Hooker anyway and fought the winner.

Real 50-50. Using Taylor as the mutual opponent i would give the edge to Prograis, but we know it doesnt work like that. Also he's been pretty inactive since his loss to Taylor ... Ramirez seems to love the game more. Be a great fight ... one of many we chance to miss out on.

Never gonna happen but imagine if Ennis and Ortiz just threw caution to the wind and got it on. Some fcuking epics out there if the desire matched the talent.

margaret thatcher wrote: ↑25 Jan 2022, 22:34 mimoune gets totally shafted vs mckenna, then goes nowhere, while mckenna keeps getting good opportunities. that's boxing for ya

Yeah, Mimoune got fcuked over tremendously that night. One of the worst I've seen.

If Prograis is still the fighter he was against Taylor, he wins by knockout

WBC Silver super featherweight champion O'Shaquie Foster will face Muhammadkhuka Yaqubov, who holds the WBC International super featherweight title, in a WBC super featherweight world title eliminator

THEBUTCH wrote: ↑26 Jan 2022, 15:32 If Prograis is still the fighter he was against Taylor, he wins by knockout

problay not but mckenna is a wild man , sometimes tyrone is his own worst enemy can see him leaving him self open to be ko

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑26 Jan 2022, 08:49

Bigdogsnose wrote: ↑26 Jan 2022, 08:36
Prograis could fight Ramirez. That would be a great fight.

Shame this was never made.

Isn’t it though. Guaranteed excellent fight

Counter-puncher wrote: ↑05 Feb 2022, 16:11

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑26 Jan 2022, 08:49

Bigdogsnose wrote: ↑26 Jan 2022, 08:36
Prograis could fight Ramirez. That would be a great fight.

Shame this was never made.

Isn’t it though. Guaranteed excellent fight

its due st pats weekend 19th march

brilo33 wrote: ↑05 Feb 2022, 16:20

Counter-puncher wrote: ↑05 Feb 2022, 16:11

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑26 Jan 2022, 08:49

Shame this was never made.

Isn’t it though. Guaranteed excellent fight

its due st pats weekend 19th march

I was on about Shame Prograis vs. Ramirez was never made.

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑05 Feb 2022, 16:30

brilo33 wrote: ↑05 Feb 2022, 16:20

Counter-puncher wrote: ↑05 Feb 2022, 16:11

Isn’t it though. Guaranteed excellent fight

its due st pats weekend 19th march

I was on about Shame Prograis vs. Ramirez was never made.

oh right i get you no reason why it shouldnt still soon , i doubt prograis heart

Prograis is a bad man. Slick, strong, fast, entertaining to watch. He should fight someone better

McKenna will try to fight off the backfoot here I reckon but Prograis will get inside and light him up. McKenna has been a KO waiting to happen and I'm pretty sure Regis will KO him

Fair play to the one person who picked McKenna to win

cocka09 wrote: ↑11 Mar 2022, 13:07 Fair play to the one person who picked McKenna to win

Was probably Tyrone?

margaret thatcher wrote: ↑25 Jan 2022, 22:34 mimoune gets totally shafted vs mckenna, then goes nowhere, while mckenna keeps getting good opportunities. that's boxing for ya

I'm not going to play the racist card, but I'm keeping it on the top of the deck, face down and ready.
Reggie is wasting his time with this fight. He needs to be actively chasing Taylor. He must be extra keen after seeing that performance at the Hydro. Reggie would have smashed that version of Taylor into the following week...