“Everyone knows the situation” with Regis Prograis heading into the Conor Benn boxing bout on April 11 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.
That’s according to Matchroom chairman, Eddie Hearn, who gave a revealing statement to iFL TV this week in which he said welterweight fighter, Rougarou, is far from fighting fit prior to swapping shots with British slugger, Benn.
Hearn represented Benn for much of his career, helped make him a star, secured the two-fight series with Chris Eubank Jr. for him, and, perhaps most significantly, risked devaluing his own reputation when he stood by him during a positive drug-test scandal.
Benn, famously, left Matchroom earlier this year as he became one of upstart fight firm Zuffa Boxing’s most significant acquisitions, and he debuts for that promotion just before Tyson Fury walks to the ring for his return against Arslanbek Makhmudov.
Speaking. to YouTube channel, iFL, Hearn touched on the relevance of the apparent one-fight deal, what it means going forward for Benn and Zuffa, and also mentioned the health status of Prograis.
“Do you think there have been no other conversations or agreements beyond a one-fight deal to fight Regis Prograis, over 10 rounds, for $15 million?” he said.
“Regis Prograis, who shouldn’t even be in the ring, because he’s that badly injured.”
Hearn continued: “Conor’s getting $15 million for a 10-round fight, with no future at all? Wake the f*** up.
“Everybody knows” Hearn said. “Everybody knows about Regis Prograis, and I ain’t gonna — I’m not gonna discredit Regis Prograis or the fight. Everyone knows the situation. Whatever.”
Though Prograis enters the Benn fight with a win — a 10-round decision over Joseph Diaz in 2025 — he has lost two of his last three, both by 12-round decision, to Jack Catterall in 2024, and, prior to that, Devin Haney in 2023.
Benn took his licks, too, mostly to Chris Eubank Jr. in their first fight, which took place at the 160-pound limit — 20 pounds north of where Prograis struggled to compete at, at super lightweight.
The weight gap alone provides Benn with an advantage, without even considering whether Prograis is injured, also.
