Devin Haney vs. Regis Prograis: B/R Staff Predictions

It's the holiday season in the retail space.

And it's "dare to be great" season in the boxing ring.

The latter will be evident Saturday night in San Francisco, where recent four-belt lightweight champion Devin Haney climbs the ladder to take on the WBC's incumbent 140-pound champion, Regis Prograis, in a scheduled 12-rounder at the Chase Center.

It's a bold step up for Haney, who's 30-0 with 15 KOs in a career he began as a precocious 17-year-old in 2015. That's because Prograis, even as a +300 underdog according to DraftKings, is no soft touch at 29-1 with 24 KOs while weighing in as heavy as 151 pounds.

The significant late-year matchup is music to the ears of the B/R combat team, which convened to discuss the merits of each fighter and come up with a forecast on how things will look this weekend in the Bay Area.

Click through to see what we came up with and drop a thought of your own in the comments.

What You Need to Know

Sarah Stier/Getty Images

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MAY 20: Devin Haney exchanges punches with Vasyl Lomachenko of Ukraine during their undisputed lightweight title bout at MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 20, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

What: Devin Haney vs. Regis Prograis

Where: Chase Center, San Francisco

When: Saturday, December 9

TV: DAZN PPV ($59.99 for subscribers; $74.99 for non-subscribers)

What's at Stake: In practical terms, it's for the WBC's super lightweight belt that Prograis won just more than a year ago and has defended once, in June. But in reality, it's Haney who's risking the nearly consensus pound-for-pound status he's held since the spring.

Together, they'll headline a pay-per-view that's bereft of names familiar to anyone beyond serious fight fans. The show will begin at 8 p.m. ET and the main event ring walks are estimated shortly after 10:30 p.m. ET.

Haney Impresses in a New Weight Class

Alejandro Salazar/PxImages/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

LAS VEGAS, NV - MAY 20: (L-R) Devin Haney punches Vasyl Lomachenko in their 12-round main-event Undisputed Lightweight Title bout at TopRank on ESPN - Haney v Loma at MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 20, 2023 in Las Vegas, NV. (Photo by Alejandro Salazar/PxImages/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Shoutout to both fighters for the pre-fight hype—Prograis and Haney have amped up the anticipation with their vibrant personalities, making this the most exciting bout in the 140-pound division.

Inside the ring, this should be a showdown of epic proportions. Prograis (29-1, 24 KOs) is rebounding from an underwhelming match against Danielito Zorrilla in his hometown of New Orleans. Following the forgettable performance, it's easy to overlook Prograis' impressive run after his narrow 2019 loss to Josh Taylor. While Prograis packs undeniable power, his lackluster skills and footwork pose a challenge against the superior Haney.

Haney (30-0, 15 KOs), fresh off his career-defining and somewhat controversial victory over Vasiliy Lomachenko, steps into the ring with nothing left to prove in the lightweight division. Shifting to junior welterweight, Haney's skills will undoubtedly shine even brighter.

In the ring, his adept counterpunching should capitalize on Prograis' calculated risks. Age is a potential factor as well, with Prograis at 34 and Haney at 25. While Prograis packs a punch, Haney's youth, superior skills and comfort at 140 should tip the scales. Prograis struggled against Zorrilla and is less skilled than Haney, and a different outcome is on the horizon. This bout will exceed expectations, and Haney will win his debut at the new weight class.

Prediction: Haney by unanimous decision

—Doug Brown

Prograis Does What Others Could Not

Alex Menendez/Getty Images

VERONA, NY - JUNE 09: Regis Prograis celebrates after knocking out Joel Diaz Jr. during a ShoBox boxing match at the Turning Stone Resort Casino on June 9, 2017 in Verona, New York. (Photo by Alex Menendez/Getty Images)

Let's make one thing clear: I've got nothing against Devin Haney.

I respect what he's done in the ring while staying perfect for eight years and becoming one of the sport's precious few undisputed four-belt champions.

But I've never been wholly sold on the fighter who's labeled "The Dream."

I can't put my finger on it, but I've always had the impression that when a fight gets particularly grimy and messy and dirty, he'll not have the wherewithal to pull it out.

Problem is, no one's been good enough to push him to that level.

Vasiliy Lomachenko was close, but even I scored their fight earlier this year in Haney's favor after he was able to win the 12th round. And though I thought Joseph Diaz might have the stuff to get him uncomfortable two years ago in Las Vegas, it never really happened.

So this week it's Regis Prograis. And I'm feeling that familiar tug.

I can't tell if it's my gut that's telling me the Cajun is really determined enough and powerful enough to get Haney into deep waters, or just some other part that's too stubborn to listen to reason and is instead setting me up for yet another prognostication embarrassment.

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.

Fool me three times...and maybe it'll be enough to stop picking against Haney.

Prediction: Prograis by split decision

—Lyle Fitzsimmons