Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
Sport
Donald McRae in San Francisco

Prograis shows how a fighter can lose their crown and keep their dignity

Regis Prograis (left) talks to Devin Haney after their fight on Saturday night
Regis Prograis (left) talks to Devin Haney after their fight on Saturday night. Photograph: Ed Mulholland/Matchroom.

The terrible marks of battle covered the face of Regis Prograis, the fallen champion, as he came out first for the inquisition in the basement of the Chase Center in San Francisco. An hour earlier, soon after the final bell which confirmed that his ordeal was over and he had suffered a shutout defeat to the brilliant Devin Haney who became the new WBC junior-welterweight world champion, Prograis spoke with raw honesty in the ring.

“That motherfucker’s good, he’s better than I thought he was,” Prograis said of Haney, who had knocked him down in the third round and hurt him again on numerous occasions during a long and painful beating. “I just couldn’t get to him. I thought he was a soft puncher, but he does have power. I was down and I was like: ‘What the fuck happened?’”

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.