Regis Prograis’ strength coach, Evins Tobler, confidently declares that Devin Haney’s clinching tactics will be ineffective against Prograis in their upcoming December 9th bout. Haney, known for his clinching strategy to neutralize opponents, faces a new challenge in Prograis, who Tobler believes will physically overpower Haney's attempts to clinch.
Haney, with a record of 30-0, has successfully used clinching in past fights against smaller opponents like George Kambosos Jr. and Vasily Lomachenko. However, Tobler argues that Haney's approach won't work against Prograis, who is more comparable in size and strength. He predicts that Haney will be thrown to the canvas if he tries to clinch, though such actions could lead to penalties for Prograis.
The fight is crucial for both fighters, with Haney recently vacating his lightweight titles to move up in weight. Prograis, the WBC light welterweight champion, is under pressure to adapt to Haney's clinching and jabbing. The match also raises questions about Haney’s power in the new weight class, as he has not achieved knockouts in recent fights against opponents like Yuriorkis Gamboa and Jorge Linares.
Tobler’s bold predictions for Prograis reflect the high stakes of the fight, which could reshape the landscape of the division and impact the future trajectories of both fighters.
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