The former two-time junior welterweight champion, Prograis, 37, agreed to face Benn on April 11 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium after receiving the offer on short notice. The fight will take place above the divisions where both fighters have spent most of their careers, yet Prograis said the change does not concern him and could actually work in his favor.
Prograis has spent years competing while cutting down to make the 140-pound limit. Fighting closer to his natural size, he believes, could allow him to carry more strength into the ring.
“Don’t be surprised if I’m stronger,” Prograis said to Fight Hub TV while discussing the matchup. “I’m at my natural weight now.”
He added that sparring heavier fighters during training has long been part of his preparation and has influenced how he views the matchup with Benn.
“Don’t be surprised if I’m stronger than him,” Prograis said, explaining that fighting near his everyday weight may change how the fight feels once punches start landing.
Benn, 29, enters the contest after signing a major deal with Zuffa Boxing earlier this year and has drawn large crowds in the United Kingdom during recent appearances. The April event at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is expected to draw another sizeable audience for the welterweight contender.
Prograis said the weight terms were never a reason to hesitate once the opportunity appeared. His view is simple: if the fight can be won, the exact number on the scale is secondary.
“I know I’m better,” Prograis said while discussing the decision to accept the bout.
The fight will mark Prograis’ first appearance above the junior welterweight limit in several years. Competing without a draining cut, he said, could allow him to enter the ring feeling fresher and stronger than he often did while fighting at 140.
April 11 will determine whether that belief holds up once the bell rings, but Prograis has already made clear that he does not expect the size difference to favor Benn once the fight begins.
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