Regis Prograis talks loss to Taylor, if Taylor will beat Ramirez and his plans for Hooker fight

Former super lightweight champion Regis Prograis chats with Yahoo Sports' Kevin Iole about how his quarantine is going and what it'll be like returning to the ring to fight without any fans in attendance.

Video Transcript

KEVIN IOLE: Hey, folks. I am Kevin Iole. And if you know me in real life or if you read what I write, you know that my next guest is one of my favorites. I love to watch him in the ring, one of the best fighters in the world, but he's also fun to watch on social media. Because you never know what this guy is going to be doing, chasing alligators and who knows what. My friend, the former world champion, Regis Prograis. Hey, Regis. How are you, pal?

REGIS PROGRAIS: Hey, Kevin. What's up? How you doing?

KEVIN IOLE: I am doing awesome. You know, not really too crazy about this quarantine. Can't get outside and go play golf or whatnot. But I can't imagine you're much of a quarantine guy, seeing what you like to do, usually.

REGIS PROGRAIS: Oh, definitely not. I'm struggling here. Right now the days are-- it's like no hours, you know? It's no time for me right now. It's just like, it's-- I still go to the gym, I'm still running, I'm still training and stuff. But as far as like regular life, it's just like-- it's hard. It's kind of like, my kids, they like it. They wake up and get on the phones and, you know, my son is still doing it like with the teacher on computer and stuff like that.

But I think they enjoy it. They outside in the yard right now, playing outside in the pool and all that stuff. But for me it's just like, you know, everything is closed. I can't do nothing. So it's hard. Some days are harder than others, but you know, and some days are a little easier, but it's still hard.

KEVIN IOLE: I know you've been filling your time doing some things, living in LA now, and I saw that there's a Netflix movie that you're in, "Spenser Confidential." Tell me a little bit about that.

REGIS PROGRAIS: Yeah, yeah, "Spenser Confidential." It was one of the best movies on Netflix. Definitely is one of the best movies on Netflix. I'm not just saying it because I'm in it, but it's definitely a real, real good movie. Me, Mark Wahlberg. Well, I won't even say me. I'm in it, but you know, Mark Wahlberg is the main character. You've got Winston Duke, Bokeem Woodbine. I think I won't butcher his name. And it was produced, directed, by Peter Berg.

KEVIN IOLE: Peter Berg loves boxing. Mark Wahlberg is a big fight fan. What do you play? I know you lost a fight in there, right? You got beaten by [INAUDIBLE].

REGIS PROGRAIS: Yeah, I had to fight big man. I had to fight Winston Duke. Big old big man. He was doing, you know, he had to throw me. They let him throw me around and stuff. But I played like a part of the Trinitarios gang. It's like a Dominican gang and it's called the Trinitarios. So that's what I was. I was a part of that.

KEVIN IOLE: That's one of the perks of living in LA now, right?

REGIS PROGRAIS: Yeah, definitely, you know. It wasn't why I came out here, but it's definitely a perk. It's definitely a perk to live here, yeah.

KEVIN IOLE: For people who don't know, why did you move from Houston to LA?

REGIS PROGRAIS: I loved it, man. That's the main thing. See you've got something in your eye over there?

KEVIN IOLE: I do, I know. I'm trying to act cool here but it's like I got punched in the eye.

REGIS PROGRAIS: Yeah, yeah, yeah. But no, I mean for me, you know, once I signed with Churchill, which is, you know, Peter Berg and Mark Wahlberg, I came here for like trying to camp and stuff like that. And then it was one day we was here for three-- I always did my training, I started coming here for training camp for two weeks. And I think like the fight with Relikh, we came here and my fight was in April, I think, with Relikh, yeah. I think it was April.

KEVIN IOLE: April 27. We're almost a year, now.

REGIS PROGRAIS: Yeah, yeah, almost a year ago. Yeah, so-- damn, almost a year since I was a world champion. Kudos, right? So yeah, so we came here for two weeks. And then when it was time to leave it was like a beautiful day here, just like it is right now. And like it was just like beach weather. And we all went back to Houston.

In Houston it was like gloomy, it was wet, it was rainy. It was like really kind of depressing. Like everybody was kind of like depressed, you know? So I said to myself, yo, after this fight is over, I'm moving to LA. And nobody kind of believed me, but like that's what I did. I just really got up and I moved just because of that.

KEVIN IOLE: Yeah, I know. The Southern California lifestyle is amazing.

REGIS PROGRAIS: It's a big difference out here. And I'm still in the right-- so right now I'm in the process of contemplating on if I should move back to Houston or if I should stay in LA. I love it out here. That's the main thing.

KEVIN IOLE: I know Houston is a big fight town, but LA, I mean, there's so many gyms and so many fighters out there. I think, you know, it used to be Las Vegas was the boxing capital of the world, but it's almost to me like, you know, New York and LA have taken that over. Because not only are there a lot of big fights in those two cities, but you have a lot of fighters that live and train there, and so you can always get good sparring.

REGIS PROGRAIS: Always, man. Always. And for me, I always had success says on my like, not in training camp, but outside of training camp. That's where I always train and get better, you know? So right now, like even right now I just really can't wait to get back in the ring and show people what I've been working on. I've been getting so much better right now, doing so many different things. It's crazy.

Like I'm 24-1, 20 knockouts, former world champion, and I'm just learning like the basics and the fundamentals, you know? Like that's the crazy part about me right now. I'm just actually starting to learn now. Everything I ever did was just natural ability. Everything, just naturally being a good fighter. But now I've been working on like-- just like I said, I can't wait to get back into the ring to show people like what I've actually been working on, my fundamentals and my basics.

KEVIN IOLE: When was it that you learned that you didn't know what you needed to know? Like was there a specific fight or a specific moment when you were in sparring that you learned that, hey, I still have a lot about this business that I don't understand?

REGIS PROGRAIS: Always. It's not even one specific time. For me it's always about learning, you know? You always have to keep learning. For me, my old manager used to tell me, man, if you're not getting better, you're getting worse, you know? Because other people are getting better. For me it's all about climbing and getting better and better and better. And sometimes, you know, getting better might come from other looks.

You know, right now I've been working-- I'm still with my trainer Bobby Benton in Houston, but I've been working with a very, very good new trainer called, his name is Julian Chua. Young. He's a young dude and, you know, like he knows a lot. He's very, very knowledgeable. And he's actually younger than me, but he's very knowledgeable about the sport and he knows a lot of stuff, you know? So right now me and him have kind of been working on some things, like a lot of basic stuff and things that, you know, I can just add to my repertoire.

And, you know, for me like I said it's not about just one thing. But one thing I did look at, I saw a picture from the fight with me and Josh Taylor. And in the picture my hands were like this. Both of my hands were done. And in the picture, both of his hands was up. And I was like, you know, ever since then when I was in amateurs and my coaches used to tell me, like, [INAUDIBLE], like, keep your hands up, keep your hands up, keep your hands up.

And I never did it, you know? Because I don't know why my chin is so strong, I really feel like I can't get hurt, you know? But now I'm getting older and it's not about, can you get hurt or not. It's just about, you know, points and stuff like that, you know? Because most people, they can hit me as hard as they can.

They just can't hurt me. I'm blessed with like genetically a strong chin and I have strong legs and a strong base, so it's hard for me to get hurt. But now it's about, you know, basics, fundamentals, and you know right now I've been working keeping my hands up. And it actually feels good, because I'm conscious about it right now.

KEVIN IOLE: I think, you know, part of it, too, Regis, is, you know, at the amateur level and earlier in your pro career, you're physically so much talented than everybody else. Your fast hands and, you know, you have that athletic ability that you can take advantage of them even if you're not, you know, in the right spot. But now as you grow up and you're fighting the best-- you know, you're supposed to fight Maurice Hooker as you come off the Josh Taylor fight. As you're fighting these guys that are just as athletic and just as good as you are, it becomes more of a factor, doesn't it?

REGIS PROGRAIS: Yeah, exactly. And I mean, I think I still have a big advantage over most of my competitors athletic-wise and skill-wise and talent-wise. But it's just about, you know, just points and all that type of stuff, you know? And being conscious. It's all for me about being better, and I want to get better in my craft, you know? So that's one thing I know I have to work on. But like I said, the thing that made me realize that is like looking at just one picture.

You know, not even watching the fight. Just that one picture, you know, my hands was like this, my hands was all the way down, and his hands were up, you know? So it's like, damn, like just that moment alone, it made me realize, put your hands up. You know, like I said, the whole time in amateurs I didn't realize that. But now one thing made, OK, you know, keep your hands up. Back to the basics.

KEVIN IOLE: You know, there's nothing wrong with making a mistake if you learn from it, right? And so you saw that picture and you learned from it. So I guess it was actually for the better in the long run, when you consider it.

REGIS PROGRAIS: Yeah, exactly. Because, you know, say like-- I'm pretty sure, for me, if I were to win that fight-- you know, it was a close fight. But if I were to have won that fight, I probably wouldn't be conscious about putting my hands up, to be honest. I'd be like, oh, it worked, and it's going to keep working, and I don't need too. You know, now it's just like, that fight made me realize, right, like you need to work on some things.

And I always kind of did work on some things, but now this is a specific thing I need to work on. So right now I just can't, you know-- and not even that. Like my feet work is just way, way better right now. So that's why I just can't wait to get back in the ring and improve, and not prove, but just show everybody like how good I've gotten over this quarantine time.

KEVIN IOLE: You were supposed to fight Maurice Hooker last week. If this thing wasn't going on, we would've seen your return against Maurice Hooker. Before we ask you about that fight, let me ask you about the guy that Hooker last fought, Jose Ramirez. That was a fight a lot of people were looking forward to. I think you versus Jose Ramirez, and especially Jose Ramirez's manager, Rick Mirigian seemed like he was hoping the two of you would get it on.

But just, you know, knowing what you know about Hooker and, you know, you've kept your eye on Ramirez over the years, how do you think Ramirez and Josh Taylor will-- I said you know what you know about Hooker. I meant about Taylor. How do you think you and Ramirez and Josh Taylor will come out?

REGIS PROGRAIS: I actually lean more towards Josh Taylor, you know? I think it'll be a very good fight, but I lean more towards Josh Taylor. But I think it could be maybe a 55-45 type of fight, you know? Like lean just a little more toward Josh Taylor because Josh Taylor, you know, he's tough and stuff. But Ramirez, I think he's going to be active. He's going to be very active and stuff. But Josh Taylor, he's longer.

You know, I think fundamental-wise he's a little better, he's quicker. I think athletic-wise he's, you know, he's a little better than Ramirez is. But at the same time, you know, I was-- the crazy thing, I was in Columbia at the WNBA thing. And me and Robert Garcia was together for a few days. We was talking about the thing, you know, we was playing around. Me and him are going to fight, me and Jose are going to fight. He's like, you know, one thing about Jose is, he's not going to stop. He has a warrior's heart.

KEVIN IOLE: He does.

REGIS PROGRAIS: He's never-- he's not going to stop. He's going to keep going, and keep going, and keep going. So I think that warrior mentality, it could definitely carry him. It could definitely carry him. But I think the thing about Jose is, and you saw it when he fought Jose Zepeda is, as a southpaw, he can definitely get-- he can get outboxed. I think he could definitely get outboxed. If you just keep turning him he can really get outboxed.

You know, Josh Taylor, if he stays on the outside and outboxes him, I think he can definitely beat him. But it'll be interesting to see if they go both inside and just get into a war. Then that'll be interesting. You know, because I fought Josh Taylor go the inside and, you know, he's big, he's strong, he definitely knows how to fight on the inside. And of course Jose Ramirez does, too. So it'll be an interesting fight, but overall game I think I lean more towards Josh Taylor.

KEVIN IOLE: That's really interesting to hear you say that. I picked against Ramirez when he fought Hooker for the reason I thought Hooker had such great reach. The same thing I think is going to cause you problems with that reach that he has, and if he uses that jab on you, you know, it's going to be hard for you to get past that jab. And I thought the same thing there. And I thought he did a really nice job at getting that kind of middle distance, and he was able to, you know, pressure Hooker a lot of that fight.

REGIS PROGRAIS: Right, right, right, right, right. I mean, it depends on how he uses it, you know? Like sometimes with Hooker-- I don't want to talk bad about him and stuff like that, you know? But I don't, like-- it depends on how he uses his feet and stuff like that, so. Like I said, I don't really want to talk bad about him right now.

KEVIN IOLE: And you don't want to give away the plan, right?

REGIS PROGRAIS: Yeah, I'm waiting to say, you know, most of my talk for the press conference. That's when it happens.

KEVIN IOLE: How long do you think-- if you get the go, you know, they call you tomorrow and say, OK, Regis, we're go. How long do you need to actually train and spar before you would actually be ready for a fight of that caliber?

REGIS PROGRAIS: Say about a month.

KEVIN IOLE: A month?

REGIS PROGRAIS: About a month. Maybe, you know, four or five weeks, maybe six is the max. Cause I've been training. Like you don't realize, I've been training since the whole quarantine thing started. Like I was already in training camp when it started, and I haven't taken a step back since. Like I've been training every week, you know, week on, week on. You know, I actually went to Vegas for a little while and I did some things I had to do like dentist's appointment stuff, but as far as like-- I've been training.

Like I've been training every single day. So I'm already-- of course I'm not in fight shape, but I'm in some type of shape, you know? And I think that this thing right here is going to really-- this coronavirus thing is really going to prove who is the hungry fighters in the world right now, you know? Who is ready, who is not letting this thing deter them, you know? Because like me, I've been through this type of stuff before, you know.

If you don't know, I had an eye injury a long time ago and it derailed me for about nine or 10 months. Of course I've been through Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Harvey, I've been through all that type of stuff. So for me, this is not normal, because it's the whole world. It's a pandemic. But I mean, I'll be ready, basically. I can be ready in, I think, a short amount of time.

KEVIN IOLE: You know, I wonder. You fought in the amateur, so a lot of times not a lot of people there, so you know what it's like to fight in a quiet arena to a large degree. But now that you're a pro, and I know you're a guy-- at least the way I see you, you know, you get in front of that New Orleans crowd and you feed off the momentum and the crowd into it. And it seems like that fuels you. Looks like a pretty good bet that, you know, the next couple of fights that you have, at least the absolute next one against Hooker, is going to be in front of no crowd. What impact, if any, do you think that would have on the fight?

REGIS PROGRAIS: I think it will have a huge impact on the fight, you know? But, you know, we fighters, if we have to adjust, we have to adjust. It is what it is. But I think, you know, as a professional, you definitely want to fight in front of a crowd. You know, my last fight I fought in front of over 20,000 people. So you're going from over 20,000 to, you know, a few spectators, probably nobody, no audience at all. You know, I think it's definitely going to be a factor. So, you know, we just have to roll with the punches. That's all.

KEVIN IOLE: You know what I wonder is, like, you know, you're a smart guy, so you're sitting in there and you can hear his corner shouting instructions to him during the fight. Now normally you probably wouldn't even hear that and everything, but now you can hear what they're saying. Would you pay attention to that, do you think? You know, kind of be aware of what he's trying to accomplish on you?

REGIS PROGRAIS: I think so. I mean, I think, you know, you won't try, but I think naturally, you know, if his corner was yelling instructions, I think that'll-- it'll be a very weird atmosphere, you know what I'm saying? Because I think nobody did it before, so I think that will be a very, very strange-- and it'll be kind of like sparring. Like a real fight in sparring. I don't know. It seems weird to me, you know?

Because, yeah, like everything would be heightened. You know, like all your senses will definitely be heightened, you know? You're in the corner and you hear him saying this and you hear them. I think everything will definitely be heightened, but maybe dulled, because the crowd won't be there. You know, the crowd definitely does something to you. You know, you want to go out-- as a professional fighter, you know, we're like the modern day gladiators. You want to do it in front of a crowd. So I think it'll be kind of weird.

KEVIN IOLE: A couple more things and I'll let you roll, bud. I know how much of a boxing historian you are and a fight fan. And I wonder-- I was in front of the TV almost all day last Saturday. ESPN had that block of 11 hours of classic fights, and it ended with the Ali-Frazier trilogy. I wonder if you got a chance to catch any of those fights, and if so, which ones you were most interested in?

REGIS PROGRAIS: I didn't catch them all on ESPN. I've seen-- I have all those fights already, so I've seen all those fights, you know, a lot, a lot of times. Every fight they had. So I didn't actually watch ESPN and I didn't watch none of them, but you know, I can watch any of those fights anytime I want. I watch those fights all the time.

KEVIN IOLE: What do you think it says about Muhammad Ali, just the impact that he made on boxing, that they put that first fight with Frazier on ESPN. It was the first time ever on ESPN, the first time on American television in 30 years, and it peaked at 835,000 viewers. I mean, that's an incredible amount.

REGIS PROGRAIS: That's Ali, man. That's Ali. That's Ali, man. Ali is like the god of boxing to me, you know? The greatest. I won't say he's the best fighter ever, but he's definitely the greatest, you know? I don't know if you saw my tattoo. I have Muhammad Ali right here.

KEVIN IOLE: Oh, I love it.

REGIS PROGRAIS: Yeah, I have him. And I have on this side I have-- I know you're a historian. You know who those two be.

KEVIN IOLE: Joe Louis and-- the one on the bottom I can't tell there.

REGIS PROGRAIS: That's Henry Armstrong.

KEVIN IOLE: Henry Armstrong? Oh, Hammering Hank, Homicide Hank.

REGIS PROGRAIS: Yeah, yeah, yeah. So I got those. And I still got to finish-- I got to do a few more. But yeah, man. Ali is Ali, you know. As they say, you know, god broke the mold after he made Ali, and that's definitely true.

KEVIN IOLE: My favorite athlete ever, I loved him. The first time I met him it was like seeing god, dude. I almost died, you know? I was like, holy [BLEEP]. Very rarely, Regis, am I speechless, but that one time.

REGIS PROGRAIS: You got lucky. I never did meet him. But yeah, so that's something that, you know, I would never-- you know, I would never be able to accomplish, meeting Ali, until I'm up there with him.

KEVIN IOLE: You'll be there with him one day. Lastly, let's end on this. When we come back, you know, obviously you'll fight Hooker. Will that fight be changed at all? Will there be any weight change because of the time off, or do you think everything will still be the same?

REGIS PROGRAIS: I can't speak on his side. But for me, if it's at 143, you know, it's at 143. Or, you know, the thing is, in boxing things change all the time. So for me, I'm good if it's at 143, if it's at 144. Belt, maybe some type of belt, I'm down with that. Or if it's at 143, it doesn't matter, you know? So for me, I don't think nothing's changed. And I mean, every time something happened, like, to me in my boxing career, like basically one door closed, another three opened up or a bigger door opened up.

So I feel like, with this happening, something really big is going to happen with, you know, me and Hooker. We might be-- I'm crossing my fingers, but we might be like the first fight televised, basically. The first fight back, you know, on live sports. And that'll be huge, if that can happen, you know?

KEVIN IOLE: That'll be really big.

REGIS PROGRAIS: That'll be really, really big. So hopefully that can happen.

KEVIN IOLE: I know-- you know that when I say this that I'm not saying it because you're sitting here, because I say it all the time. But I think this guy, a world champion and a star already, but he's only scratched the surface, and you're going to be hearing a lot from Regis Prograis as we move forward. He is going to be a big time star. Regis, I really appreciate you. As always, always great to catch up, and thank you so much for taking the time.

REGIS PROGRAIS: Thank you, Kevin. See you.

KEVIN IOLE: Best of luck, brother.

REGIS PROGRAIS: All right, man, thanks.