Regis Prograis vs. Aaron Herrera

Buffalo Run Casino, Miami, OK, March 25
TV: Showtime
By Peter Lim

Herrera (29-4-1, 18 KOs) is not your typical fighter from south of the border. A a tall and lanky junior welterweight at 5'11", his preference is to use long straight punches rather than short compact hooks. And unlike most Mexican fighters, he does not fight well on the inside.

This should play well into Prograis' hands. A southpaw, Prograis (16-0, 13 KOs) can box strategically but what he loves to do most is walk opponents down and strike from different angles. The Houston boxer can crack, but more often than not, he stops opponents by breaking them down rather than ending it with a single shot.

Herrera's long, lean torso presents a tantalizing target and Prograis zeroes in on it from the outset. Herrera scores periodically from the outside but his moments are fleeting. By the middle rounds, Prograis' body work has taken its toll and reduces Herrera to a stationary target. A left to the body sinks Herrera to the canvass where he remains for the full count in the sixth round.

Afterthoughts:
The fight was going exactly as I anticipated, including the knockout punch to the body, but Herrera wilted way sooner than I predicted. Kudos to Showtime for putting on such an excellent, action-packed card.