“I don’t care about the weight,” Prograis said to Boxingscene “He can come in at 180, 200 pounds if he wants. I just think I’m better than him. I’ve been at the world level for a while.”
It feels like a classic case of a veteran fighter trying to take the psychological high ground when the contract is already stacked against him. Between the Zuffa Boxing backing and the home-field advantage in London, the conditions are being tailored for Benn to succeed.
By saying he does not care if Benn walks in at 180 or 200 pounds, Prograis is attempting to project total confidence in his skill set. However, there is a massive difference between “not caring” and the reality of fighting a guy who could have a 15 to 20 pound weight advantage by the time the opening bell rings.
Regis’ logic is that Benn is making a tactical mistake by draining back down after spending all of 2025 at middleweight (160 lbs) for the Eubank Jr. series. Regis believes Benn is “killing himself” to get back down.
The oddsmakers clearly disagree with Prograis. Benn is currently a massive favorite, around -1300, while Prograis is sitting as a huge underdog at +700. This is one of the widest gaps Prograis has ever faced.
It suggests the “smart money” believes the 37-year-old is strictly being brought in as a high-name-value opponent to look good on a resume.
If Benn is indeed stripping off muscle as fans have noticed, he is likely planning to balloon back up as soon as he steps off the scale on April 10.
Interestingly, Prograis has been talking to Terence Crawford for advice. Crawford apparently told him how to handle a naturally larger man by using the same lateral movement and “angles over power” approach he used against bigger opponents. If Prograis can channel even a fraction of that “Bud” Crawford IQ, he might be able to make the 150-pound version of Benn look very clumsy.
At 37, Regis knows this might be his final shot at a massive payday and a return to the elite conversation. His “I don’t care” attitude might just be the only way he can mentally process the fact that he is walking into a disadvantageous situation.
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