Regis Prograis vs Joseph Diaz: Who has the edge heading into their fight?

Battle-tested former world champions Regis Prograis and Joseph ‘JoJo’ Diaz find themselves in a similar situation — in desperate need of a win.

Prograis and Diaz will each look to snap a skid when they clash Saturday night at the Credit Union 1 Arena in Chicago, Illinois, live on DAZN.

Prograis (29-3, 24 KOs), a former two-time super lightweight world champion, enters this bout having been on the receiving end of two deflating unanimous decision losses — the first to Devin Haney in December 2023 and the other to Jack Catterall last October.

He’ll try to snap that skid and get back to the win column against Diaz (33-7-1, 15 KOs), a former super featherweight ruler, who is mired in even a rougher slide, having lost three straight fights and six of his last seven matchups. That includes a split-decision defeat to Abraham Montoya in November.

With the urgency strong in both corners, DAZN News' Mark Lelinwalla analyzes who has the edge between Prograis and Diaz.

Boxing Styles

Regis Prograis is a busy fighter who keeps throwing his right hand while keeping his left loaded and waiting to unleash something more damaging from the southpaw stance.

While skillful in producing stinging pot shots, like the kind he used to drop Catterall with in the fifth round of their bout, he often shows a complete lapse in guard with his hands at chest level. That leaves him vulnerable to big blows like the crunching left he was forced to taste the canvas with against Catterall.

That style will be up against fellow southpaw Diaz, who generally keeps a high, disciplined guard from where he tends to bang the body and unload prodding shots.

His guard, with relentless pressure, could be broken as Oscar Duarte managed in April 2024, when he produced the first knockout defeat of Diaz’ career.

That could be an issue with the kind of pressure Prograis presents.

Edge: Prograis

Power

Prograis is a blunt, stiff southpaw puncher as evidenced by 24 of his 29 victories having come by the way of knockout.

It is not that ‘JoJo’ Diaz does not possess power as he counts 15 KOs to his own ledger. But he is more snappy with his output and is overmatched in this category.

Edge: Prograis

Mental Warfare

Having lost three straight fights—  one in a painful knockout — and six of his past seven, Diaz is in a battle with himself as much as Prograis.

Much of the same can be said about ‘Rougarou’ after losing two straight decisions on points.

So both Prograis and Diaz should be urgent for a win, though Diaz’ trudge through the mud carries heavier mental hurdles to overcome.

Edge: Prograis

Who has the edge in Prograis vs Diaz?

That Prograis’ last two fights have been high-stakes matchups are significant. His bout against Haney was for the WBC super lightweight world title which Prograis lost on points. His scrap with Catterall was for the right to fight for the WBO interim super lightweight tile.

That has not been the case for Diaz, who has been relegated to gatekeeper status and could remain there with another loss.

The edge goes to Prograis, 3-0, and now it is up to New Orleans native to not suffer what would be a major setback.