Regis Prograis questioned Josh Taylor’s future after his defeat to Teofimo Lopez last week.
Lopez dethroned the WBO super lightweight champion and looked set for the chance for unification fights, but appears to have already vacated the belt as he made good on his promise to retire from the sport for good, unless he is given a huge deal to return.
Prograis lost to Taylor as the Scot made his way to becoming the undisputed champion at 140lbs, but after a poor showing against Jack Catterall at the start of last 2022, he now faces questions over his future.
The American has turned his career around as he reeled off four consecutive knockout wins, taking the WBC strap in the process.
On Saturday he will face Danielito Zorrilla in New Orleans, hoping to defend his belt live on DAZN.
“I wanted Josh to win so I could fight him again, but now, I just have got to fight Teofimo,” said Prograis, reported BoxingScene.com “I know he’s saying he’s retired but I hope he is not. I think that would be a huge fight and we must do it.
“[Lopez vs. Taylor] was good for boxing, two fighters that needed that win, they were both coming off performances that meant they needed to win. I’m not going to lie, I doubted Teo, I thought he was going to lose, but Teo just went out and did his thing. I take my hat off to him and congratulate him on his win. I wouldn’t say Josh is washed up, I don’t know if he’s shot, he didn’t look good though and Teo had every answer for him.
“Josh just couldn’t hit him often with big shots, and even when he did hit him with some left hands and uppercuts, it didn’t have any effect on Teo. Josh couldn’t touch Teo too much because he was being slick, and even when he did, nothing happened or worked for Josh. Around the fourth round I think I had it level, but after that Teo got into his groove and his rhythm and took over.
“I was surprised that Teo was able to rock Josh in the later rounds and honestly, he made Josh look ordinary, he really did. I don’t know if it was because of Teo or because of Josh, if he’s shot, I don’t know. He didn’t look like a former undisputed champion in there.”