Regis Prograis Slams Conor Benn and Looks to Spoil His Zuffa Boxing Debut

Regis Prograis previews his upcoming fight with Conor Benn by assessing the skills of his opponent.
Conor Benn (left) throwing a jab against Chris Eubank Jr. (right)
Conor Benn (left) throwing a jab against Chris Eubank Jr. (right) | IMAGO / Action Plus

After an epic brace of bouts with fellow countryman and bitter rival Chris Eubank Jr., Conor Benn will return to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on April 11 to take on Regis Prograis.

The bout is set to be contested at 150 pounds following Benn's brace of bouts with Eubank Jr. at 160 lbs.

Now, Benn is moving back down the weight divisions as the former two-time super lightweight champion, Prograis, competes at 150 pounds for the first time in his career.

Speaking ahead of the fight, 'Rougarou' reveals why he accepted the fight and what he makes of Benn's skills.

Regis Prograis
Regis Prograis | Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

Regis Prograis does not think highly of Conor Benn, reveals why he accepted the fight

In a recent interview with IFL TV, Prograis was asked about his upcoming bout with 'The Destroyer' Benn.

Prograis described the fight with Benn as both a 'big opportunity' and an 'opportunity he couldn't pass on', before adding, "I know I can beat Conor Benn. Conor Benn is just not on my level. I'm a better fighter all around."

The former champion said he was surprised after receiving the initial call to face Benn, given the fact that he had never competed at welterweight before, let alone 150 lbs.

Prograis revealed he asked for the fight to be within the welterweight limit of 147 pounds before being told Benn would not compete within those restrictions. He was also told there would be no rehydration clauses, unlike in Eubank vs Benn.

Despite the weight details seeming off-putting to Prograis, he ultimately accepted the bout.

"I was like, 'This doesn't sound that good.' Then, I thought about it, and I was like, 'I can't let this fight pass me up. This is a big opportunity'... I called my manager and said, 'Just make the fight.'
Regis Prograis

Although the bout is just over one month away, Prograis said that he has been consistently training over recent weeks due to a canceled bout with Arnold Barboza Jr.

When asked to give an assessment of Benn's skills, the former Devin Haney opponent was not particularly complimentary.

"I think he's okay. I don't think he's world-level. I think if he weren't a Benn, he wouldn't be as well-known as he is now. He had those legendary fights because of his dad and Chris Eubank. I think he's okay, that's all I'm going to say. I don't think that he's going to be at my level."

Loading recommendations... Please wait while we load personalized content recommendations


Published
Donal Long
DONAL LONG

Donal Long is a boxing journalist for KO On SI, hailing from Dublin, Ireland. Prior to joining SI in 2025, Donal graduated from Dublin City University with a bachelor's degree in media production management. He has also worked on sites such as SportsJOE, GiveMeSport, The Sportster, and Bloody Knockout. Donal has been a huge sports fan for all of his life, which has seen him travel throughout Europe to attend live events.

Share on XFollow longdonal