Regis Prograis vs Joseph Diaz is being praised as one of the most exciting bouts of 2025 so far, with both veterans showcasing heart and skill in a brutal, closely contested war. The fight was contested at super lightweight (140lb) as the co-main event at Credit Union 1 Arena in Chicago on 2nd August.
Although the judges’ scorecards favored Prograis, awarding him a unanimous decision with scores of 98–92 and 2X 96–94, many observers felt Diaz deserved a closer verdict.
[HIGHLIGHTS] Was the judges’ score justifiable, Regis Prograis vs Joseph Diaz ?
There wasn’t even a single dull moment; right from the opening bell, the battle was fierce. Regis Prograis and Joseph Diaz went toe-to-toe, trading sharp punches and going beyond the limits.
Have a look at the round highlights from 1st to 10th:
1st Round: Prograis struggled in the beginning with Diaz’s powerful shots that staggered him multiple times. Though he was unsteady on his feet, Prograis showed resilience against his opponent.
SUGGESTED READ: Sheeraz Beats Berlanga, Emerges as Top Canelo Contender 2026
2nd Round: Diaz continued to dominate Prograis, who was on shaky legs but survived the round.
3rd Round: In this segment, Prograis settled in with his jab, snapping Diaz’s head back occasionally; however, Díaz increased his offense with a flush left-handed shot upstairs.
4th Round: This round saw both fighters trading punches, with Prograis delivering more frequently, and ultimately giving a bloody cut over Diaz’s left eye due to an accidental clash of heads. The cut was checked by the ringside doctor multiple times.
5th Round: Prograis found a rhythm circling and poking through Diaz’s guard, occasionally landing sharp left hands. Diaz also landed big lefts to the chin as Prograis sometimes fought with his hands down.
6th Round: Prograis pumped his jab and landed flurries early, but Diaz fought back hard, wobbling Prograis again with counters and right hooks, retaining pressure until the bell.
7th to 8th Round: Both fighters exchanged powerful combinations; Prograis used his jab and movement, while Diaz threw right hooks and body shots. Prograis appeared tired but accurate.
9th Round: Diaz landed double right hooks and clean single hooks, shaking Prograis further. Prograis responded with his jab but was hurt at times.
10th Round: Both fighters maintained high intensity with Prograis shoveling jabs and Diaz throwing right hooks and overhand lefts. Diaz couldn’t finish Prograis but was effective and aggressive until the end.
The final scorecards read 98–92, 96–94, and 96–94 in favor of Prograis, earning him a unanimous decision victory.
𝙁𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙮𝙚𝙖𝙧 𝙘𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙙𝙖𝙩𝙚 👏
Prograis and Diaz produce and incredible war with Regis claiming a points victory. #PrograisDiaz
— Boxing Social (@boxing_social) August 3, 2025
Prograis now stands at 30–3 (24 KOs), while Diaz moves to 34–8–1 (15 KOs).
[TRENDING] What Prograis Said?
Prograis on Diaz’s strength said, “I’m not gonna lie, JoJo was way tougher than I thought. Man, JoJo is for real.” The respect was mutual in the ring.
However, when asked about running it back, Prograis made it clear that certain conditions would need to be met. He emphasized that a second fight would only happen if there’s a major title at stake or a substantial payday on the table.
While he didn’t disclose the exact figure, it can be estimated that the fighter is talking about the million-dollar range.
“Listen, my thing is, I want to be a world champion again,” Prograis added. “So, if somehow me and JoJo get a chance to fight for a belt or big money, we’ll do it.”
Pankaj Kapoor’s Take
No surprise at all, this kind of battle often delivers the most unexpected winner. Early on, it looked like Diaz had it in the bag, but as the fight wore on, the momentum shifted. Prograis, though shaky at first, found his rhythm and turned the tables. The gap between them wasn’t wide.
It was a close, hard-fought contest, and in the end, winning or losing is just part of the game.
YOU MIGHT READ: Moses Itauma Crushes Whyte, Rises as Boxing’s Next Star
