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Relikh and Prograis meet in WBSS junior-welterweight semifinal

boxing26 April 2019 12:15| © SuperSport
By:Ron Jackson
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Kiryl Relikh © Getty Images

WBA junior-welterweight champion Kiryl Relikh from Minsk, Belarus defends his belt against WBC Diamond champion Regis Prograis of Houstan, Texas at the Cajundome in Lafayette in Louisiana, USA on Saturday night, in the World Boxing Super Series semifinal.

The 29year-old Relikh (23-2; 19) is coming off a good win over Russia’s Eduard Troyanovsky to reach the semifinal and also retain his WBA belt for the first time.

He won the vacant belt in March 2018 with a wide 12-round unanimous points decision over Rances Barthelemy in a rematch.

His two losses came against Ricky Burns in 2016 and Rances Barthelemy in 2017.

Prograis, 30, who fights from the southpaw stance is ranked at No. 5 in the latest WBA ratings and has a record of 23-0; 19 since making his pro debut in April 2012.

He has been most impressive in his last three fights, scoring wins over Julius Indongo (tko 2), Juan Jose Velasco (tko 8) and Terry Flanagan (pts 12) by wide margins, and seven of his last eight fights have ended in stoppages.

Relikh has slight height and reach advantages over Prograis but he will have to fight from a tight defence as Prograis has an 83% knockout ratio.

The odds are that the more skilled fighter, Prograis, could win on points in the end.

The other main organisation champions are WBC, Jose Carlos Ramirez, IBF, Ivan Baranchyk and WBO, Maurice Hooker.

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