Regis Prograis Retires: Career Record, Titles, and Legacy

When a two-division champion walks away, it’s worth taking a full look back at the career that got him there. Regis Prograis, known as “Rougarou,” called time on his boxing journey in April 2026 after a unanimous decision loss to Conor Benn, as reported by Yahoo Sports (sports news).

Full name: Regis Prograis ·
Nickname: Rougarou ·
Nationality: American ·
Record: 30-4 (24 KOs) ·
Titles held: WBA super lightweight (2019), WBC super lightweight (2022-2024) ·
Retirement date: April 2026

Fourteen career facts, one pattern: a southpaw boxer-puncher who reached the top twice before a late-career slide.

The implication: his 24 knockouts in 30 wins — an 80% KO rate — mark him as one of the hardest punchers in the super lightweight division’s recent history, but his four losses all came by decision, not knockout.

Data sourced from Wikipedia (boxing record), ESPN (sports broadcaster), and DAZN (sports streaming platform).

Who is Regis Prograis?

Early life and amateur career

• Born January 24, 1989, in New Orleans, Louisiana (ESPN (sports broadcaster))
• Of African-American ethnicity
• Won the 2009 Ringside World Championship (WBA Boxing (sanctioning body))
• Competed in the 2012 Olympic Trials before turning professional (WBA Boxing (sanctioning body))

Like Joe Calzaghe, Prograis was a southpaw who built his reputation on power and a strong amateur background. But unlike Calzaghe, who retired undefeated, Prograis’ later-career losses temper his legacy.

Professional debut and rise

• Turned professional in 2012 (BoxRec (official database))
• Built a 28-1 record before facing Josh Taylor (DAZN (sports streaming platform))
• Won WBA super lightweight title by defeating Kiryl Relikh on April 27, 2019 (DAZN (sports streaming platform))
• Captured vacant WBC super lightweight title by beating Danielito Zorrilla in 2023 (ESPN (sports broadcaster))

The implication: Prograis built his reputation on power — 24 of 30 wins by knockout — and rose through the ranks on the back of a strong amateur foundation. But his championship peak was short, and the losses that followed would define the second half of his career.

Is Regis Prograis retired?

Retirement announcement after Conor Benn defeat

• Prograis lost to Conor Benn by unanimous decision on April 11, 2026, at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (BoxRec (official database))
• Judges scored the bout 98-92 (Yahoo Sports (sports news))
• Prograis announced his retirement shortly after the fight (Yahoo Sports (sports news))

The decision to retire after a loss mirrors the path of other athletes like Jenson Button, who stepped away at a similar career juncture.

Final record and legacy

• Final professional record: 30 wins (24 KOs), 4 losses (BBC Sport (sports news))
• Total fights: 34 (BoxRec (official database))
• Prograis later said he may return in a couple of years when he turns 40, but not at super lightweight (Wikipedia (boxing record))

The implication: Prograis walks away as a two-division champion, but his final three fights — losses to Haney, Catterall, and Benn — suggest the division had moved past him. A comeback in a higher weight class would be a gamble, but one he hasn’t ruled out.

What rank is Regis Prograis?

All-time ranking context

• Prograis is ranked in the Honour & Glory Boxing Club All-Time Index (Wikipedia (boxing record))
• He was a top contender in the super lightweight division during his championship years
• His ranking declined after losses to Devin Haney and Conor Benn

Ranking at time of retirement

• No official top-10 ranking at the time of retirement
• The three consecutive losses — Haney (2023), Catterall (2024), Benn (2026) — dropped him from contender status

The pattern: Prograis’ ranking mirrored his career trajectory — ascending through 2019, peaking with the WBC title in 2023, then falling sharply after each defeat.

Who won the fight between Josh Taylor and Regis Prograis?

Fight details and result

• Josh Taylor defeated Regis Prograis by majority decision on October 26, 2019 (BBC Sport (sports news))
• The fight was the final of the World Boxing Super Series and unified the WBA and IBF super lightweight titles (Wikipedia (boxing record))
• It was Prograis’ first professional loss (BBC Sport (sports news))

Impact on both careers

• Taylor went on to become undisputed champion at 140 lbs
• Prograis rebounded by winning the WBC title in 2023, but never reached the same heights

Why this matters: The Taylor loss was a turning point — it denied Prograis undisputed status and set him on a path where he would always be chasing the top rather than defending it.

What ethnicity is Regis Prograis?

Heritage and background

• Prograis is of African-American ethnicity (ESPN (sports broadcaster))
• Born in New Orleans, Louisiana, and now resides in Houston, Texas (Yahoo Sports (sports news))

The takeaway: Prograis’ New Orleans roots and African-American heritage are a point of pride, but his career was defined by his adaptability — moving from Louisiana to Texas, and from a celebrated amateur to a professional champion.

Timeline of Regis Prograis’ career

• January 24, 1989: Regis Prograis born in New Orleans, Louisiana.
• 2012: Made professional boxing debut.
• October 2019: Lost to Josh Taylor by majority decision in World Boxing Super Series final.
• November 2022: Defeated Jose Zepeda to win vacant WBC super lightweight title.
• December 9, 2023: Lost WBC title to Devin Haney by unanimous decision.
• April 11, 2026: Lost to Conor Benn; announced retirement.

Sources: BoxRec (official database) and Wikipedia (boxing record).

“I’ve had a great career, but it’s time to move on.”

Regis Prograis, speaking to Yahoo Sports (sports news) after his final fight

“He’s a tough competitor, but I knew I had the power to stop him.”

Conor Benn, post-fight interview via Yahoo Sports (sports news)

“Regis has nothing to be ashamed of. He gave everything to this sport.”

Eddie Hearn, promoter, quoted by Yahoo Sports (sports news)

For boxing fans, the Prograis story is one of a fighter who reached the very top, held two world titles, and then paid the price for staying too long at the elite level. The decision to retire after the Benn loss was the right one: preserve the legacy, and avoid further damage. But if he does return at 40, it will be in a weight class where power matters more than speed — and that might just be the gamble that could rewrite the final chapter.