Regis Prograis stops defiant Jose Zepeda to pick up the vacant WBC Super Lightweight title.

In an intriguing bout for the vacant WBC super lightweight belt, Regis Prograis 28-1 (24 KOs) scored an impressive KO over tough Jose Zepeda 35-3 (27 KOs) in the penultimate round on Saturday night in Carson, California. Both fighters mixed it up from the opener with Prograis dictating with the jab and Zepeda playing counter puncher. The bout began to unfold as a tactical battle with Prograis appearing to control the majority of the exchanges. Zepeda suffered a cut over his right eye following a heated exchange in round 4 but managed to maintain his composure and even cause Prograis some problems in the fifth. Prograis picked up some nose damage from Zepeda’s accurate jabs in the 6th but stuck to his strict game plan and boxed intelligently to orders through round 8. Down the final stretch both fighters boxed behind the jab, patiently poaching for openings with some impressive back and forth action. By the tenth it was apparent that Zepeda was fading and Prograis was closing the distance, Zepeda fought back defiantly but midway into the 11th found himself being backed up. With a minute left in the round Prograis unleashed a vicious two handed attack to drop Zapeda forcing referee Ray Corona to stop the fight at 0:59 of the session. Both men had their moments in a very competitive fight but it was Regis’ more accurate efficient work that pulled him through against a very determined Zepeda.  Ringside judges had it 98-92, 98-92 and 97-93 all in favour of Prograis at the time of the stoppage.