“I don’t care concerning the weight,” Prograis said to Boxingscene “He can are available at 180, 200 kilos if he wants. I just think I’m higher than him. I’ve been on the world level for some time.”
It seems like a classic case of a veteran fighter attempting 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 doesn’t care if Benn walks in at 180 or 200 kilos, Prograis is attempting to project total confidence in his skill set. Nevertheless, there’s an enormous difference between “not caring” and the truth of fighting a man who could have a 15 to twenty pound weight advantage by the point 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 an enormous favorite, around -1300, while Prograis is sitting as an enormous underdog at +700. That is considered 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 probably going planning to balloon back up as soon as he steps off the dimensions on April 10.
Interestingly, Prograis has been talking to Terence Crawford for advice. Crawford apparently told him easy methods to handle a naturally larger man by utilizing the identical lateral movement and “angles over power” approach he used against larger opponents. If Prograis can channel even a fraction of that “Bud” Crawford IQ, he might have the option to make the 150-pound version of Benn look very clumsy.
At 37, Regis knows this could be his final shot at an enormous payday and a return to the elite conversation. His “I don’t care” attitude might just be the one way he can mentally process the undeniable fact that he’s walking right into a disadvantageous situation.