It is the loss to Haney last December which has looked particularly damaging to the American’s prospects.
Knocked down in round three before losing on points, Prograis was far away from his flamboyant best in a sluggish display and was dominated by Haney.
Prograis told BBC Sport that changes behind the scenes before the Haney fight had hindered him, saying he had spent the build-up to fighting Catterall “getting back to being me, getting back to what took me to the top”.
“For the Haney camp I changed everything,” he said.
Advertisement
Prograis explained he switched up his team for Haney, including having his head coach and an assistant swap roles. For Catterall, he has changed everything back while admitting: “I don’t know why I did that.”
He also shortened his camp, having trained for three months before fighting Haney – something which affected his mental health.
When Catterall’s injury meant an August fight was postponed to October, Prograis “took a little vacation” from his camp in Las Vegas.
“I really needed that mentally, that made a big difference because I couldn’t train that whole time. In camp I train three or four times a day, that’s a lot,” Prograis said.
Advertisement
“So I took off, I chilled, and came back way stronger.”
Another major change for Prograis in 2024 has seen him employ a manager, having previously represented himself in negotiations.
He says that had been another error, and that being able to hand off his business matters means he can relax before a fight which is must-win if he is to remain a contender at the elite level.
“I’ve made enough money, I’m good for the rest of my life, so now I’m boxing to enjoy myself,” Prograis said.
Advertisement
“I was trying to be a businessman and a boxer before, doing everything myself, telling people in interviews I didn’t need a manager – I definitely do!”
A proud New Orleans native, Prograis told the BBC in 2019 that he was fighting for the city, still recovering from the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
Five years on, Prograis says he is fighting only for himself.
“I always have my people, but I did that already,” he said. “This is for me, because I love it.”
In his press conference before the match against Bengaluru FC, Kerala Blasters manager Mikael Stahre termed the fixture a “tough home match”. On the face of it, this seems odd. After all, Bengaluru would have to contend with the home team’s fanatical fans. But, going by the performances of the two teams, it is evident that Stahre was right to highlight how difficult the game would. The league leaders have been that good.
After five matches, Bengaluru have a near-perfect record—four wins, including an impressive 3-0 win against ISL Shield Winners Mohan Bagan Super Giant, and one draw, which was against ISL Cup winners Mumbai City, away from home. Incredibly, the team is yet to concede a single goal in the competition this season.
Captain Sunil Chhetri has three goals and one assist already and even at 40, the retired national team legend is still arguably India’s best player, thanks primarily to his football intelligence—unmatched within the country’s national talent pool. Having an Indian player as a goal threat is a major advantage for the team because every other ISL team depends heavily on foreign players for goals. Therefore, having Chhetri in the squad frees up an extra slot for the team to field a foreign player elsewhere on the pitch.
Centre-back Chinglensana Singh will miss the match against the Blasters after being shown a red card in the 1-0 win against Punjab. For most teams in the ISL, this would be a major blow. But, in the case of Bengaluru, it could be argued that it would make their defence stronger with the towering Australian Aleksandar Jovanovic expected to start.
Advertisement
The only problem for Bengaluru is that new signing Jorge Pereyra Diaz is yet to get going in the league. However, even this is bad news for the other teams—that Bengaluru are playing well without one of the league’s most talented attackers firing on all cylinders. The Blasters’ fans have seen up close how devastating the 34-year-old Argentine can be during his one season in Kerala, and they have to hope that he does not find his form against their team. In fact, it was Diaz’s goal in the added time that knocked the Blasters out of Durand Cup earlier this year, in Bengaluru’s 1-0 win in the quarterfinal.
The Blasters have shown great improvement since their disappointing opening match loss to Punjab. Noah Sadaoui has been electric and has formed a great understanding with Jesus Jimenez. Captain Adrian Luna is making progress in terms of improving his match fitness, but it may be too early to expect a massive impact from him. What is important for the team is that he plays enough minutes to enable him to get back to his best later in the season. Kwame Peprah can consider himself unlucky if he does not get a start after impressing from the bench. But, Jimenez is the right choice as he helps the team recycle the ball by dropping deep; Peprah is more of a threat on the counter-attack and in later stages of matches against tired defences.
The team has scored in every game so far, and with Sadaoui, Jimenez and Luna, and the threat of Peprah from the bench, the Blasters are a good bet to be the first team to breach the Bengaluru defence this season. The problem for the home team will be at the other end of the pitch.
The Blasters are yet to keep a clean sheet this season and have conceded first in four of five matches so far. The attack is foreign-player heavy, which means that the Indian players will have to be trusted in crucial roles in defence and midfield. If the coach is unwilling to make the tough call of dropping Luna for this match, he will once again restrict himself to being able to pick only one out of Milos Drincic and Alexandre Coeff. Ideally, for this match, the Blasters need Coeff as the defensive midfielder and Drincic in defence. But, the indications are that Luna will start. So, we may see a midfield of Vibin Mohanan and Mohammed Azhar again. There were many, fans included, who celebrated the “record sale” of Jeakson Singh. Bengaluru may well be the match that exposes the lack of defensive nous in the Blasters midfield.
Advertisement
It is often said that attack is the best defence. But in this case, defence will be the only defence.
Buffalo is 5-2 and in first place in the AFC East. Seattle is 4-3 and in first place in the NFC West. Last week, the Bills beat the Titans, 34-10, while the Seahawks beat the Falcons, 34-14.
What happened the last time they faced off?
The Bills beat the Seahawks, 44-34, in November of 2020.
IAN HOLLOWAY has been appointed manager of EFL side Swindon Town.
The League Two strugglers parted company with Mark Kennedy following their underwhelming start to the season.
1
Ian Holloway has been appointed Swindon managerCredit: PA
They have wasted little time in appointing his successor with Holloway confirmed just hours after his sacking.
Advertisement
Holloway, 61, has signed a deal until the end of the season.
He said on joining The Robins: “I’m delighted to be back working in football after a period out of the game as I wanted to get back into it if the right opportunity arose which, with this opportunity, I feel is the perfect fit for me.
“Conversations happened very quickly and both sides were very keen to get the deal done and of course, I was delighted to engage with a club like Swindon Town, a club of whom I know a lot about due to my location and knowledge of the local area.
“I want to be able to bring everyone together to deliver success and positivity on and off the pitch and I’m delighted to be at The Nigel Eady County Ground tomorrow to meet you all for the first time as Swindon Town Manager and I look forward to a successful time working together.”
Advertisement
Holloway has not managed since he was sacked by Grimsby four years ago after winning just 11 out of 38 games in charge.
He is just 11 games away from 1000 matches managed in a managerial career that has seen him win promotion three times.
Holloway’s first taste of success came at QPR when he won promotion to the Championship in 2004.
THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY..
Advertisement
The Sun is your go to destination for the best football, boxing and MMA news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video.Like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TheSunFootball and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSunFootball.
Lancia has officially launched its Ypsilon Rally4 car that will guide the World Rally Championship’s most successful manufacturer back to competitive motorsport.
The Italian car maker, a winner of a record 10 WRC constructors’ titles (1974-1976, 1983, 1987-1992), has created an all-new Rally4 car that is set to compete in the European Rally Championship and a newly created one-make Lancia Rally Trophy competition in Italy next year.
Lancia’s return to rallying arrives 50 years after it won its first WRC title with the legendary Stratos in 1974. The brand added its fourth title in 1983 with its Group B, 037, before dominating Group A with the Delta.
Read Also:
Advertisement
The Ypsilon Rally4 is based on the high performance all-electric Ypsilon HF, although the Rally4 version will be powered by a 1.2-litre turbocharged three-cylinder internal combustion engine that will develop 212 horsepower. It will include a five-speed mechanical transmission and a mechanical limited-slip differential.
Lancia, owned by the Stellantis Group, already has two representatives in Rally4: the Peugeot 208 Rally4 and the Opel Corsa Rally4. Both cars are based on the same platform and use the most important common elements – engine, gearbox and suspension concept.
“2025 will mark the return of Lancia to motorsport as we aim to reestablish our presence in contemporary motorsport competitions,” said Lancia CEO Luca Napolitano.
“With a mix of tradition and innovation, Lancia looks to the future with passion and ambition. With 2026 set to be the year of the Gamma flagship, which will be produced in Stellantis’ Melfi factory, 2025 is dedicated to the return of the haloed HF name, which will first make an appearance on the Ypsilon and later show up on the Gamma and the new Delta with the “HF Integrale” label.
Advertisement
“Whenever the HF gets mentioned, one can’t help but recall the legendary Stratos, 037, and Delta, which dominated rally racing for 20 years, winning a total 15 World Championships in Drivers’ and Constructors’ competitions – a record which has yet to be broken.
“We have always been leaders in motorsport and rally, but now, with the trademark elegance and simplicity which sets us apart, we are making a comeback to Rally 4, the developmental category for tomorrow’s professional drivers, as we look to improve upon our past with passion and pride.”
Lancia Ypsilon Rally4
Photo by: Lancia
Lancia’s new rally car is aimed at young drivers, costing €74,500 with the first models set to reach customers at the end of January.
Advertisement
The car maker turned to its most successful WRC driver and two-time world champion Miki Biasion (1988-1989) to fine tune its latest rally car.
“If you dreamt of track as a child, you dreamt of the red of a Ferrari. However, if you dreamt of becoming a rally driver, then you dreamt of Lancia,” said Biasion.
“I am honoured to have worked together with the Lancia and Stellantis Motorsport teams in fine-tuning the Ypsilon HF and Ypsilon Rally 4.
“I hope to inspire all the young drivers who hit the road with our Lancia Ypsilon Rally 4 HF to become professionals and future champions. The Lancia legacy of victories and racing is back and I am happy to be a part of it.”
Advertisement
The car is set to make its debut in the new Lancia Rally Trophy that will be part of the Italian Rally Championship, featuring a prize pool of €300,000. The winner will then have a chance to drive the Lancia Corse HF team’s official Ypsilon Rally4 HF in the 2026 European Rally Championship.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login