"TIME TO SHINE" PROGRAIS & TAYLOR FACE-TO-FACE IN LONDON AHEAD OF ALI TROPHY FINAL
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 10 Sep 2019
USA?s Regis Prograis (24-0, 20 KOs) and Scotland?s Josh Taylor (15-0, 13 KOs) met on Monday in England?s capital at an intense kickoff press conference ahead of their highly anticipated WBSS Super-Lightweight Ali Trophy Final at The O2 in London on October 26, live on Sky Sports Box Office in the UK and DAZN in the U.S.
?I am excited to come to London, most fighters don?t get this chance in a lifetime,? said Prograis, WBA World Champion & WBC Diamond Champion.
The New Orleans native known as the ?Rougarou, a werewolf-like creature of Louisiana?s folklore, does not see the final as a 50-50 match-up.
?Everybody always says they are going to beat me. Everybody says it was going to be a 50/50 fight but I blow everyone up. He is taller than me, he is longer than me, but you can?t determine my heart on the tale of the tape. And you can?t determine my IQ, Not to be cocky, but I can?t see him beating me.?
The beast from the bayou is up against ?The Tartan Tornado? from Prestonpans who is at least as confident in his own abilities.
?I am full of confidence,? said Taylor, IBF World Champion & WBC Silver Champion.
?I think I am bigger than him, quicker than him, stronger than him, and I punch just as hard as him. If he walks onto a shot I can get him out of there or I can out-box him for the full 12 rounds.
?I am headlining the show down here, tapping into the British fans, so I can?t wait,? he added. ?Right now, I believe myself and Regis are the best two in the division, we are the guys to beat. And we are going to prove it on October 26. This is my time to shine and I am super confident.?
?This is it, the Champions League of boxing,? said Kalle Sauerland, Comosa?s Chief Boxing Officer. ?This is a super final, the super-lightweight final for the Ali Trophy and ?the man to beat in the division?. It?s not often you see the best against the best and this is one of the best fights of the year.
?I have watched them both and studied them extensively. Regis likes to keep his distance and is very fast in and out whilst Josh will come right at you and those two styles blend well.
?I can?t predict who wins. It?s really a dream to have two undefeated champions, two huge personalities in the final and we are very much looking forward to it.?
Prograis and Taylor entered the World Boxing Super Series and the quest for the Ali Trophy as the two highest-seeded boxers in a loaded 140lb bracket.
No. 1 seed Prograis earned his spot in the final by outdoing Terry Flanagan on points last October, and then went on to stop Kiryl Relikh in round 6 and take the WBA World title in the semi in late April. Meanwhile, second seed Taylor stopped Ryan Martin in round 7 last November and then proceeded to decision Ivan Baranchyk to claim the IBF World title in May.
The WBSS Super-Lightweight Ali Trophy Final at The O2 in London on October 26 is shown live via Sky Sports Box Office in the UK and DAZN in the U.S.
DAZN, the world?s largest dedicated live sports streaming service, will exclusively bring U.S. fight fans the WBSS Season II Finals. To sign up for a one-month free trial, fans can visit DAZN.com or download the DAZN app to their preferred connected device.
WBSS Season 2 Finals:
Bantamweights
Naoya Inoue vs Nonito Donaire ? 7 November, Saitama Super Arena, Saitama, Japan
Super-Lightweights
Regis Prograis vs Josh Taylor ? 26 October, The O2, London, UK
Cruiserweights
Mairis Briedis vs Yunier Dorticos
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Suslenkov knocks out Mann to headline explosive IBA Pro 16 night in Serpukhov
Sat, 18 Apr 2026AJ Manas off to a hot start in Indonesia
By Marlon Bernardino, Sat, 18 Apr 2026Camila Zamorano WBC female champion health update
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Sat, 18 Apr 2026PH Athletics team shines in the 2026 Singapore Open Track and Field Championships
By Marlon Bernardino, Sat, 18 Apr 2026JESSE RODRIGUEZ CHALLENGES ANTONIO VARGAS FOR WBC BANTAMWEIGHT WORLD TITLE IN GLENDALE ON JUNE 13
Sat, 18 Apr 2026WEIGH-IN RESULTS AND PHOTOS FROM SD FIGHT NIGHT: FAMILY BUSINESS - TOMORROW, APRIL 18 AT FRONTWAVE ARENA IN OCEANSIDE, CALIF.
Sat, 18 Apr 2026OFFICIAL ‘REVOLUTION’ WEIGHTS FROM CORK, IRELAND
Sat, 18 Apr 2026MIKHAIL GRIGORYAN DEFEATS JEO SANTISIMA, CROWNED NEW IBF ASIA LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPION IN SERPUKHOV
By Dong Secuya, Sat, 18 Apr 2026Ra’eese Aleem Vows Victory Over Angelo Leo Ahead of May 9th IBF Title Fight in Atlanta
Sat, 18 Apr 2026WCM Nika Juris Nicolas 10th in Serbia
By Marlon Bernardino, Sat, 18 Apr 2026JESSE ‘BAM’ RODRIGUEZ PENS LONG TERM EXTENSION WITH EDDIE HEARN AND MATCHROOM
Sat, 18 Apr 2026Hermie Rivera: A Fil-Am Original
By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, Fri, 17 Apr 2026LIVERPOOL FIGHT NIGHT: OFFICIAL WEIGHTS AS BEN WHITTAKER TAKES ON BRAIAN SUAREZ – LIVE ON DAZN
Fri, 17 Apr 2026Lerasan to fight for WBO Asian Pacific bantam title
By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 17 Apr 2026Fuentes is now ready to fight in Juego Todo
By Lito delos Reyes, Fri, 17 Apr 2026