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Mike Coppinger, ESPN
Regis Prograis is in search of a new opponent for his June 17 homecoming title defense in New Orleans after Australia’s Liam Paro withdrew with an injury, Prograis announced Thursday.
Prograis (28-1, 24 KOs) will make the first defense of the WBC junior welterweight title he won with an 11th-round KO of Jose Zepeda in November. The 34-year-old Prograis signed a three-fight promotional deal with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing earlier this month and will headline on DAZN.
ESPN’s No. 3 boxer at 140 pounds, Prograis’ lone career defeat came in 2019 when he dropped a majority decision to Josh Taylor in a title unification in London.
Paro (23-0, 14 KOs) was set to fight outside Australia for the first time. Whoever replaces Paro will fight for the title on less than four weeks’ notice.
