Conor Benn defeated Regis Prograis via unanimous decision after 10 rounds at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
The 150lbs catchweight bout was expected to be straightforward for Benn, but the former two-time junior welterweight champion Prograis proved a tougher opponent than expected. After 10 competitive rounds, all three scorecards regardless read 98-92 in favour of Benn, likely taking him closer to his shot as mandatory challenger at the WBC welterweight champion Ryan Garcia.
The talk before the fight was not of the fight, but of Benn’s reported $15million switch from his long-time promoter Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom to rivals Zuffa Boxing and Dana White. That talk consumed the build up, with many forgetting that Benn was in with an experienced operator in Prograis. Despite Prograis’ accolades, Benn was expected to deliver a straightforward knockout under his new promotional banner. However, despite rising to 25-1 (14 KOs) with victory, he looked one-dimensional and failed to deliver a performance to be proud of.
There had been rumours of an injury to Prograis, and his legs did not look under him from the opening bell. Benn, 29, landed a right hand over his guard that shook the 37 year old. The Englishman would jump in recklessly to land his right hand but Prograis was able to time him and land his southpaw left. The round was a competitive one but Benn landed a right hand on the bell that rocked Prograis badly.
Prograis was down again in the second, but this time from stumbling as he threw a jab. It seemed that he was having trouble with his right leg, and it looked inevitable that he would be taking another trip to the canvas.
Benn was in control in third, yet struggling to land anything meaningful on his experienced opponent. The crafty southpaw slipped and slid Benn’s sharp punches, but offered little in return. Prograis finally landed his first telling shot when he fired in a left hand that cut Benn’s right eye early in the fourth. Prograis took confidence from the shot and started to press forwards.
Benn appeared offended by Prograis' success in the previous session and started the fifth strongly. He fired in his sharp shot, but little landed, Prograis was just too clever and there was little thought to Benn’s work. Benn finally caught Prograis with a right hand; Prograis shook his head and returned fire with a left to the midsection.
Benn was increasingly getting frustrated. It wasn’t just about beating Prograis, it was also looking good, and thus far he had not. Another cut opened on Benn, this time above his left eye in the sixth. Benn, seemingly angered by the cuts, thumped in a body shot before taunting Prograis, and was politely told to shut up by the referee Kieran McCann.
Benn was breathing heavily in his corner ahead of the seventh, but started the round quickly by firing in a left hand, followed by a right, to Prograis’ midsection. Benn continued his assault on Prograis’ body, swinging in hooks as the pair locked horns in center ring. Prograis was shaking his head in response, but he was certainly feeling the shots downstairs.
Benn was feeling more comfortable; his work to the body had made a dent in Prograis and he was able to dominate the eighth. He continued to fire in shots to the midsection, bringing them up to the head occasionally, but Prograis stood firm. Prograis was wearing the effects of Benn’s shots in the previous two sessions in the ninth, and there was a sense he was starting to come apart. Blood trickled from Prograis’ left eye as Benn again belted in a wild hook, but still Prograis shook his head. It had become about finishing on his feet for the ageing Prograis. He knew his best years were behind him, but having never been stopped before, he was determined to not give Benn that honour.
Prograis fought bravely throughout the 10th and final round. Benn continued to fire in sharp right hands, but Prograis dug in and fired back. Prograis waved his opponent in as he played possum in the corner, and seemed to catch Benn with his head as he fired in a left to Benn’s body. Benn tried frantically to get his man out of there in the closing seconds, but Prograis was too smart, and tough, and the bell sounded.
Benn looked displeased, his face bloodied and bruised, as he awaited the official verdict and Prograis gave him respect as Benn was awarded the win. Prograis fell to 30-4 (24 KOs) with the defeat, and despite losing gave a good account of himself in what could be his final professional bout.
