Benn (24-1, 14 KOs) faces former two-time junior welterweight champion Regis Prograis (30-3, 24 KOs) at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on the Tyson Fury vs. Arslanbek Makhmudov card, streamed survive Netflix. The bout falls under a reported $15 million single-fight agreement linked to Zuffa’s expansion into boxing.
Talking to Boxing King Media, Hearn focused on the burden and the matchmaking.
“150? It’s good for Conor to try and convey himself down from 160,” Hearn said of the agreed catchweight.
He then assessed Prograis’ current standing.
“I like Regis. You saw within the Jojo Diaz fight he’s not the fighter that he once was. He’s still an honest fighter, but Conor ought to be much too fresh.
“It was never a fight that we were taking a look at because I used to be attempting to deliver him a world championship fight. But, as a treading water fight, when you like… It’s going to be weird to see him on an undercard, but I don’t think he’ll be that bothered when he gets paid.”
Hearn also raised the topic of the reported purse.
“Let’s just see what the UFC fighters have gotten to say. It’s an interesting one. It’s an issue for them.”
Shalom responded sharply to Hearn’s public stance.
“I just couldn’t consider the response, I assumed it was a parody, I assumed Eddie Hearn was playing up, fake outrage,” Shalom told Boxing King Media.
“I discovered it pathetic within the circumstances, that’s what they’re, that’s what they do.
“They’re all s***bags.”
Shalom compared the situation to Ben Whittaker’s departure from BOXXER.
“It hurt me,” he said. “I put every part into him, so I do know why it hurts.
“Did I get a thanks? No. Did I get a call? No. So it hurt me.
“I’m not saying what Conor Benn did is true, I just found the response comical.”
Contained in the ropes, Benn faces a seasoned southpaw who built his title run at 140 kilos with heavy left hands and sustained pressure.
April 11 now carries parallel contests. Benn vs. Prograis and Fury vs. Makhmudov within the ring. Promoters across microphones beyond it.
