EDDIE Hearn now believes he now has the best super-lightweight in the world and a Cuban who could beat Gervonta Davis.
On Saturday Matchroom announced two signings during their co-promotion of Canelo Alvarez v John Ryder in Guadalajara.
Regis Prograis 28-1 (24) and amateur sensation Andy Cruz have now joined the British outfit and will make their promotional debuts this summer. The number one ranked ten stone fighter returns home to headline in New Orleans on June 17 against stablemate Liam Paro while Cruz will join the lightweight division and make his professional bow in July.
Hearn was delighted with his new additions when he spoke to Boxing News about both of them.
“I believe we have the best 140-pounder in the world,” he said of ‘Rougarou’.
The only blemish on the record of Prograis is his defeat to Josh Taylor in the World Boxing Super Series Final three and a half years ago. The Scot went on to become undisputed champion while the American’s career stalled. Hearn believes it would be a different outcome if the two best super-lightweights met again.
“I really rate Josh Taylor, but I think right now with the momentum I believe Regis Prograis would beat Josh Taylor. I promoted their first fight it was like that (mimics 50-50 balance) it was brilliant. They’re both brilliant fighters.”
Hearn told BN it was vital to get a significant slice of the division because of what could lie ahead. Lightweight stars Ryan Garcia and Devin Haney are likely to move up soon while fellow elite 135-pounders Gervonta Davis and Shakur Stevenson may not be too far behind.
“Regis is ready for all those guys. I think the kid’s a star,” said Hearn.
There could be a few obstacles in the way. The popular phrase is, ‘The other side of the street’ but Hearn says that doesn’t matter because they must produce big fights for Prograis.
“Well, Devin Haney’s a free agent after the Lomachenko fight so we’ll see. Ryan Garcia’s with DAZN. And from there you’ve got our guys. You’ve got Paro, you’ve got [Stevie] Spark, you’ve got [Gabriel] Valenzuela, you’ve got Jack Catterall. Richardson Hitchins, Montana Love. So, we’ve got loads of guys but that’s fine for this year, like the next two fights. We do need to land the big fights and that’ll be on us to do it. And if we can’t we’ll probably lose him, so the pressure is on us, and we’ll deliver.”
Securing the signature of Andy Cruz was the one that raised eyebrows. The 27-year-old was a sensational amateur who won gold at the 2020 Olympics but prior to that picked up the same colour three times at the World Championships and twice at the Pan American games.
“I watched this kid in Tokyo and I seen him beat Luke McCormack, I saw him beat Keyshawn Davis easily,” said Hearn.
“I was like this is gonna be one of those great Cubans that never turns pro and could easily take over the world in his division, but we’ll never get a chance. Unbelievably we’ve got a chance. He’s gonna start at 10 rounds in July. The way that it’s been received by the boxing community, he’s like a god. We need to push that and make the casual audience realise that this kid is unbelievable and for me could be our biggest signing ever.”
Such is the talent of Cruz and the confidence of his new promoter there is no ceiling to how far he could go as a professional. Come next year we could already be watching him mix it with the best at 135lbs.
“I think he’ll box two or three times this year,” said Hearn. “Four, five, six fights max before he fights for a world title. He can beat those guys now, honestly. I would put him in with Tank now and I rate these guys unbelievably. It’s so good to have a talent that you know can mix it with them and it’s going to be a special journey.”