WBC Super Lightweight champion Regis Prograis had been set to face Australian contender Liam Paro on June 17th but the latter was forced to withdraw after incurring an injury last week. Though highly-regarded American contender Arnold Barboza Jr. was one of the candidates expected to fill in for Paro, Prograis will now be facing a different fighter entirely.

Puerto Rican fighter Danielito Zorrilla (17-1, 13 KO’s) has been chosen instead as Regis Prograis’ (28-1, 24 KO’s) next opponent. A hard-hitting puncher, Zorrilla is ranked only two spots behind Australian contender Liam Paro (23-0, 14 KO’s) according to BoxRec’s rankings, and counts only one loss on his record which came against Arnold Barboza Jr.

Aside from the sole loss he suffered in July of 2022 against Arnold Barboza Jr. (28-0, 10 KO’s), Danielito Zorrilla has been on a hot streak by winning four out of his last five matches by either a knockout or a stoppage victory. He is further regarded as the third-best Puerto Rican in the division, trailing only behind IBF Junior Welterweight/Super Lightweight champion Subriel Matias (19-1, 19 KO’s), and former WBO Lightweight champion Jose Pedraza (29-5-1, 14 KO’s).

Though Liam Paro was a worthy contender by himself, Zorrilla provides a different for Regis Prograis and can perhaps be considered a more dangerous match-up given his ability to finish opponents within the distance.

Regis Prograis, who only recently conquered his second world title in November of last year, will be making the first defense of his WBC title will be fighting in his home city of New Orleans after many years. His last fight in his city was in 2018 when he faced and defeated former Lightweight world champion Terry Flanagan.