Eddie Hearn reacts as Regis Prograis set to face Conor Benn

Conor Benn will meet regis prograis in a high-profile co-main event and his former promoter Eddie Hearn has offered a full assessment of the matchup, the money on offer and the fallout from Benn’s split from his long-time promoter. The bout sits on a major card on April 11 and has prompted reaction from several industry figures.

Hearn on the matchup

Eddie Hearn has weighed in after Conor Benn announced his move away from Hearn’s Matchroom to sign a one-fight, mega-money deal with Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing. Hearn noted Benn had been regarded as a lifelong Matchroom fighter because of a close relationship with him; Hearn previously staunchly defended the 29-year-old after two failed doping tests in 2022 that left Benn’s reputation in tatters.

Asked what weight the fight would take place at, given Benn fought Chris Eubank Jr twice at 160 and has said he will drop back down to 147, Hearn pointed to the agreed catchweight. “150? It’s good for Conor to try and bring himself down [from 160], ” he said, adding that 150lbs suits his ex charge.

Regis Prograis in the co-main

The opponent is two-time super-lightweight world champion Regis Prograis, a 37-year-old former two-time world champion from New Orleans who operates naturally at 140lbs. Prograis is coming off a points win against Jojo Diaz last August and has losses to Josh Taylor, Devin Haney and Jack Catterall on his record.

Card, venue and streaming

The fight will take the co-main event spot on the Tyson Fury versus Arslanbek Makhmudov card at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on April 11, and is scheduled to be streamed live on Netflix. Benn’s placement on that undercard drew comment from Hearn, who said it would be “weird to see him on an undercard, ” but added he did not think Benn would be bothered when he gets paid.

Money, offers and consequences

Benn left Matchroom after a 10-year spell to sign with the promotional company linked to Dana White in a move widely described as a one-fight, mega-money deal; a reported $15M purse has been cited as the inducement. Hearn said he is happy for Benn to receive “‘life-changing’ money for a fight at this level” and repeatedly expressed the view that Benn should win the contest: “I like Regis. You saw in the Jojo Diaz fight he’s not the fighter that he once was. He’s still a decent fighter, but Conor should be much too fresh. It was never a fight that we were looking at because I was trying to deliver him a world championship fight. But, as a treading water fight, if 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 highlighted a potential problem for the new promoters, naming tension over purse sizes between boxing and mixed martial arts competitors: “Let’s just see what the UFC fighters have got to say … It’s an interesting one. It’s a problem for them. ” The promotional outfit TKO was named alongside Zuffa Boxing in that context.

Industry reactions and business view

An expert named Johnny Nelson described Benn’s decision to join Dana White and Zuffa Boxing as a “business move” that will have “really hurt” Eddie Hearn. Nelson called it “show business, ” saying Hearn will feel the loss because he thought they were friends. Nelson recalled Hearn saying he had sent Benn a message saying, “I think we should talk, ” and that Benn declined. Nelson quoted Benn as saying, “I’m doing it for my family. I’m taking care of me. ”

Nelson set out the financial calculus he believes Benn faced: had Benn stayed he might have earned “two or three million” on his next fight and risked a defeat and a career downturn, whereas he has been offered $15m for his next fight. “If he should be at that level, then he'll stay at that level and make a lot more money. If he's not at that level, he swam the channel, he's done well. He's got paid handsomely at a level that he probably would never have got to - and he's alright, he's sorted. ” Another headline used the spelling Jonny Nelson when naming that expert.

Frank Warren’s reaction at launch

Frank Warren refused to comment on the collapse of his relationship with his Saudi paymasters and on legal action, answering “Can't comment” when asked about suing Their Excellencies. He said he will still be promoting “the biggest shows in boxing, ” noting an unretired Tyson Fury back in the ring in April and a world heavyweight title fight between shock WBO champion Fabio Wardley and former champ Daniel Dubois the month after.

On Benn’s decision to leave Eddie Hearn, Warren said he sent Hearn “a little note the morning after that” and “I won't tell you exactly what was in it. ” He quoted former American President Harry S. Truman: “if you want loyalty, get a dog. ” Warren was blunt about Benn: “Conor's not even the best welterweight in Essex. He's been protected. Never fought a contender, never fought for a world title, let alone won one. Forget the two fights with Chris Eubank because I've never rated Junior either. So lucky Conor, with all he's been paid so far for such little talent. Even more so with the millions of dollars he's supposed to be getting from UFC boss Dana White as he tries to make it in boxing. ”

Warren made those remarks at the London media launch for Wardley versus Dubois in Manchester on April 11. Wardley, who moved from white-collar events to become a world champion, said the WBO belt that arrived in the post two weeks ago included the inscription of Dave Allen’s nickname “The White Rhino, ” and added: “They sent a replacement without a nickname because I don't have a nickname and don't want one. Fabio Wardley is good enough for me when I'm knocking people out. ” Wardley said he hand-picked Dubois as his first title challenger because he loves “wars with big hitters. ” Dubois said: “Losing my belt to Oleksandr Usyk was like losing a girlfriend, even though it was to the greatest fighter of his generation. Now I'm going to renew that relationship. ” Both believe their fight will not go anywhere near the 12 round distance; Warren's promotional title for that fight is “Don't Blink. ”

Benn remains the WBC number one challenger at welterweight and has made it clear he will target a fight against new champion Ryan Garcia later in the year, though whether that happens and under which promotional banner is unclear in the provided context.