Regis Prograis Hopes To Eventually Face Terence Crawford

This coming Saturday night, Regis "Rougarou" Prograis will look to make a statement in his hometown of New Orleans.

Prograis (21-0, 18 KOs) will headline a homecoming card from the Lakefront Arena, where he will defend the WBC super lightweight diamond belt against fellow unbeaten Juan Jose Velasco.

Prograis vs. Velasco will be televised live on ESPN and ESPN Deportes at 7 p.m. ET.

Prograis is overwhelmed with the opportunity to perform before a rabid crowd of local fans.

He wants to put on a very impressive performance.

"It's a dream to come here. The Lakefront Arena, I grew up right around the corner from there. Like, in the car, you'd get there literally in two minutes. Just to be headlining there, that's super important to me. I'm honored for it. I have to hide my excitement because I still have to fight," Prograis said. 

"[Velasco] is going to try and knock me out, you know what I mean? So I gotta go out there and do my thing. I'm super excited. I might not show it, but I'm really excited to be fighting in my hometown."

Prograis' goal is to make New Orleans a fight town - and he wants to continue building the city up until he eventually lands a future showdown with WBO welterweight champion Terence Crawford.

"My whole goal is to bring big-time boxing back to New Orleans. Not only a Regis Prograis fight, but one day we may get [Terence Crawford] up here to fight. You know, one day, maybe me and [Crawford] might fight here at '47," Prograis said.

Should he beat Velasco on Saturday, Prograis will become a part of the World Boxing Super Series junior welterweight tournament.

Already confirmed for the tournament are Josh Taylor, Eduard Troyanovsky, Kyril Relikh, Ivan Baranchyk and Anthony Yigit. The IBF, WBA world titles will be at stake in the tournament.

Prograis not distracted by the future and only focused on the fight at hand.

"I'm focused. There are no distractions for me. This is normal. This is a part of the game," Prograis said.