Prograis is Motivated By The Pressure in Ramos Bout
By Peter Lim
In a clash of undefeated junior welterweights, hometown favorite Regis Prograis (15-0, 12 KOs) takes on Abel Ramos (14-0-2, 9 KOs) at the Bayou City Events Center in Houston tonight. The fight, staged by Savarese Boxing Promotions and DiBella Entertainment, is the latest installment of ShoBox: The Next Generation on Showtime.
Prograis, 26, has lived in Houston for the last decade but it was not by choice. In 2005 Hurricane Katrina ravaged New Orleans and submerged all but the roof of his childhood home under raging floodwaters, forcing him and his family to uproot to Houston.
But as massive a disaster as Katrina was, it had a silver lining of equal proportion. Houston was a major boxing hub with an abundance of top-notch gyms, trainers and movers and shakers who quickly recognized Prograis' pugilistic potential. Prograis turned pro in 2012 after falling short at the Olympic Trials.
"I know I wouldn't be where I am as a pro if Hurricane Katrina wouldn't have happened," Prograis told The Houston Chronicle. "The storm was a blessing in disguise. If the storm wouldn't have hit New Orleans, I would have a totally different life."
Prograis fought on Showtime as recently as four months ago, outpointing previously undefeated Amos Cowart (11-1-1, 9 KOs) in August over eight action-packed rounds in Atlantic City, far away enough from his and Cowart's home turf of Florida for either fighter to have any significant cheering section in the crowd. Against Ramos, though, Prograis will have a two-city home court advantage.
"I've got my people from New Orleans coming and I've got everybody from here (Houston) so there will be more pressure there but I don't get nervous," Prograis told the Chronicle. "I like the pressure and the pressure makes me fight better and harder."
Prograis-Ramos will be the main event of a quadrupleheader featuring eight red-hot prospects. In the other televised bouts on the card:
Lightweight Bryant Cruz (16-0, 8 KOs) of Port Chester, NY, faces Dardan Zenunaj (10-1, 8 KOs) of Belgium.
Middleweight Steed Woodall (9-0-1, 6 KOs) of England takes on Steve Rolls (12-0, 6 KOs) of Canada.
And Ivan Baranchyk (8-0, 7 KOs) of Russia fights Shadi Shawareb (9-0-2, 5 KOs) of Oklahoma City in a junior welterweight bout.
