By Jake Donovan

The difference between Regis Prograis and most others who claim to be the best, is his overwhelming desire to prove it.

What was hailed as the toughest test of his young career proved to be just another night at the office for the unbeaten southpaw from New Orleans. A World Boxing Super Series semifinals clash with Kirly Rellkh resulted in Prograis’ first career title win—and his finest performance yet, with plenty more to come.

That’s if he hasn’t completely scared away the competiton.

“I told y’all beforehand, these boys can’t f*** with me,” Prograis boldly proclaimed after a 6th round stoppage of Rellkh in his title-winning effort Saturday evening at the Cajundome in Lafayette, La. “I f***** just dominated the whole time. They can’t mess with me.”

The winner of the May 18 clash between undefeated defending titlist Ivan Baranchyk and unbeaten top contender Joshu Taylor will have no choice but to mess with Prograis. Whomever prevails will join the newly minted titlist in the WBSS finals, assuming no more drama awaits the remainder of season two.

Baranchyk’s handlers have already threatened to pull out of the tournament over a financial dispute stemming from his knockout win over Anthony Yigit in the quarterfinals round last Ocotober in New Orleans. The win came on the undercard of Prograis’ 12-round whitewash of Terry Flanagan to put him in position to challenge for his first major title.

Relikh (23-3, 17KOs) came in looking to make the second defense of the belt he claimed in a revenge-fueled decision win over Rances Barthelemy in their rematch last April. The bout came less than a year after dropping a highly controversial decision to the former two-division. titlist.

Just one successful defense followed, a hard-fought 12-round decision win over former titlist Eduard Troyanovsky last October. Then came Saturday’s semifinals clash, which Relikh struggled to make weight and then even more so once the opening bell sounded.

“I’m not surprised at all. I’m a different animal,” Prograis proudly stated afert his win. “(Relikh)  already knew from the get-go. I knew that whoever they put in front of me, they’re going to get the same treatment.”

Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox