Regis Prograis knew his fate was set. The chance to recapture the world title was out of the question and with an 11-round knockout he took the vacant WBC world championship belt.
Despite the difficulty posed by Jose Zepeda, Prograis dominated space and time to nullify the Mexican's best qualities and became only the third fighter to beat him.
However, the dangerous challenges are not over for Prograis, on the contrary. The American has a 2023 outlook that looks like a minefield, as his future has been finalized since the WBC convention.
When a vacant crown is won, the new champion is obliged to defend against two mandatory champions. In Prograis' case, it will be former champion Jose Carlos Ramirez in the first contest and the second opponent will be the winner of an eliminator between the winner of Teofimo Lopez vs Jose Pedraza and Sandor Martin.
"I won't say anyone's name, for three years no one mentioned me and now it's their turn to come and get me, to say my name and come for the title I just won," said Rogugaru, who could also go after the winner of the rematch between Josh Taylor and Jack Catterall.