Prograis' first defense to be vs. replacement foe Zorrilla on June 17
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WBC junior welterweight titleholder Regis Prograis will face a new opponent in Danielito Zorrilla, who has stepped in to replace injured Liam Paro on a month’s notice, Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn announced on Monday.
Prograis and Zorrilla will square off on June 17 (DAZN) at the Smoothie King Center in Prograis’ hometown of New Orleans.
Australian southpaw Paro (23-0, 14 KOs), 27, withdrew last week with an undisclosed injury, leaving Matchroom Boxing to find a new foe for Prograis, a sought-after free agent, who signed a three-fight deal with the company earlier this month.
Matchroom Boxing made an offer to Top Rank about lining up contender Arnold Barboza Jr. (28-0, 10 KOs) for the fight but they could not reach an agreement. Prograis will instead face Zorrilla, whose only loss was a clear unanimous decision to Barboza in July 2022.
“I’m glad that Zorrilla has taken the fight,” Prograis said. “Nothing changes for me. I am still working hard to go out there and prove that I am the best fighter in the world at 140 pounds. I will go out, do my thing, show out for my city and defend my title with pride.
“I’m sad for Liam but we have a great replacement, and I am going to make everyone proud. Everyone in the city is stopping me in the street and asking me about the fight, so I cannot wait to get in there and put on a show. It’s going to be a fire fight.”
Prograis (28-1, 24 KOs), a 34-year-old southpaw, won the vacant WBC title by exciting 11th-round knockout of Jose Zepeda on Nov. 26 to become a two-time junior welterweight titleholder. Soon after, he became a promotional free agent when Disrupt Promotions, which had taken over many of the contracts of the now-defunct Probellum, released him. As a free agent, Prograis attracted interest from the major players, including Top Rank, before signing with Matchroom Boxing.
The Miguel Cotto-promoted Zorrilla (17-1, 13 KOs), 29, of Puerto Rico, has won his only fight since the loss to Barboza by scoring a first-round knockout of low-level opponent Aristides Quintero, who was 21-17-2, in March in Panama.
“We have waited for this opportunity for a long time in my career and it has finally arrived,” Zorrilla said. “I am ready to be a world champion. I am grateful to Prograis for giving me the opportunity but on June 17, there will be a new world champion.
“I’ve been watching Prograis for a long time and I know his style. I know I have the talent and ability to win by any means. The world will know who ‘Zorro’ is.”
Cotto, the Hall of Fame former four-division champion, was happy to help Zorrilla secure the title shot.
“Zorrilla has worked hard for this opportunity and without a doubt the time has come to fight for the world championship,” Cotto said. “Prograis is a great champion but on June 17 he will have a complete boxer in front of him, hungry and ready to be world champion.”
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Great Fight can't wait for this One & the Puerto Rican will not fear the Creo Boxer from New Orleans,👍🏻