Jaron Ennis and Artur Beterbiev are the most avoided people in boxing, says Regis Prograis.

MMA120
4 Min Read

According to Regis Prograis, welterweight Jaron “Boots” Ennis and IBF/WBC/WBO light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev are two of the most avoided fighters in the sport of boxing today. He believes that they are both outstanding contenders.

Jaron Ennis (31-0, 28 KOs) has been unable to secure fights with top competitors in the 147-pound division, as Terrence Crawford, Errol Spence Jr., and Keith Thurman have shown no interest in facing him.

Ennis is currently stuck in a tough spot, as the elite welterweights are in no rush to give him a shot at proving himself against them.

Regis Prograis feels that Ennis is not getting the opportunities he deserves, and the top fighters in the 147-pound division are not obliged to face him. In contrast to sports like the NFL, where players are obliged to face their rivals, boxing operates differently.

According to Prograis, Crawford has been waiting for his big fight for 15 years, and now that he’s set to face Spence, who is not in his prime after a car accident, he wants to maintain his reputation and avoid a risky match against the young gun Ennis.

While acknowledging Crawford’s skills, Prograis believes that Ennis is a superior fighter and poses a significant threat to the top welterweights.

Furthermore, Prograis is of the opinion that Ennis is a nuisance to Crawford, Spence, and Thurman, and the established fighters are not eager to take the risk of facing him. Crawford, in particular, is eyeing fights with major names like Canelo Alvarez and Jermell Charlo.

Spence, on the other hand, may not be willing to face Ennis if he loses to Crawford in a potential rematch in the following year. Similarly, Thurman, who is waiting for a high-profile fight with either Crawford or Spence, is not inclined to take on Ennis.

As for Artur Beterbiev, he is also experiencing difficulty in finding talented opponents in his weight class. Beterbiev had been interested in fighting Dmitry Bivol, but according to him, Bivol was not genuinely interested in arranging the bout.

When asked about the most avoided fighter in boxing, Regis Prograis mentioned Beterbiev and Naoya Inoue. He believes that Beterbiev is a menacing force in his weight class, and not many fighters are eager to face him.

Prograis also feels that Shakur Stevenson is being avoided due to his exceptional skills in the ring, and his name not carrying enough clout in the boxing world.

In response to a question about a potential fight with Gervonta Davis, Prograis expressed interest in facing him after his bout with Devin Haney. He emphasized his focus on big fights and demonstrated his confidence in defeating Haney in their upcoming match.

Prograis firmly believes that he is the best fighter in the 140-pound division and expresses his willingness to prove it in the ring.

When discussing who he thinks is the face of boxing, Prograis acknowledges Canelo’s national popularity and believes that as a Black American, it’s challenging to attain the level of national support that someone like Canelo enjoys.

Lastly, when asked about the fight between David Benavidez and Demetrius Andrade, Prograis revealed that he leans towards Benavidez due to his familiarity with the fighter.

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