Prograis Schools Flanagan,Baranchyk Defeats Yigit

Local favourite Regis Prograis, 23-0-(19), booked his place in the semi final of the World Boxing Super Series tournament on Saturday night when he scored a 12 round points win over Terry Flanagan,33-2-(13), at the Lakefront Arena in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Flanagan, who was knocked down in the eight round when Prograis connected with a left hand to the head. Bizarrely, Prograis never pushed forward to close the show, instead he threw single shots and stood back to admire his work against a gun shy opponent.

At the end of 12 one sided rounds Prograis was judged a clear winner by scores of 119-108, 118-109 and  117-110. Prograis stepped up a gear in the final round but Flanagan survived, albeit with a bloodied left eye.

In the co-feature bout, Ivan Baranchyk, 19-0-(12),defeated Anthony Yigit, 21-1-1-(7), via seventh round tko win to claim the vacant IBF junior welterweight title. The fight was stopped after Yigit’s left eye was swollen shut on the advice of the ringside doctor.

Baranchyk had a point deducted in the seventh round for holding Yigit’s head down for the umpteenth time. Baranchyk was strong and could start favourite against Regis Prograis in the WBSS semi final but if he continues to use rough house tactics and foul constantly, he may well blow his chances of victory.