Conor Benn defeats Regis Prograis by decision in inaugural bout with Zuffa

LONDON — Conor Benn celebrated his inaugural fight under the Zuffa Boxing promotion with a unanimous decision victory over Regis Prograis at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday.

All three judges scored the contest 98-92 in favor of the British fighter, who outworked and outperformed former junior welterweight champion Prograis.

Benn (25-1, 14 KOs) established the tempo of the match in the initial rounds, utilizing his left jab and looking for powerful right hands as his speed and agility posed challenges for Prograis (30-4, 24 KOs).

The opening three rounds were cautious yet favorable for Benn. While he managed the fight and moved effectively, he did not dominate Prograis—who had previously fought at around 150 pounds only once—in the manner that many anticipated.

By the conclusion of Round 6, Benn had sustained cuts around both eyes from accidental head clashes, and Prograis capitalized on this with increased success in the middle rounds. Prograis connected with a significant left hand in Round 7 and seemed to gain confidence as the bout progressed after a slow start. Nevertheless, Benn’s overall work rate remained superior as he began to focus on Prograis’ body in the later rounds.

Prograis displayed determination and resilience as he continued to urge Benn forward, despite being hit multiple times by both the solid left jab and sweeping right hand from his British rival. However, he did not seem overly affected by Benn’s power.

Benn executed a strong tenth round to conclude the fight, delivering several effective combinations as he unleashed his punches but was unable to secure a knockdown against a tenacious Prograis. This marked Benn’s first fight since November, when he won on points against Chris Eubank Jr. in their rematch.

This was also the Brit’s first bout under Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing after parting ways with Eddie Hearn and Matchroom in February. Earlier this week, Benn mentioned he would be a free agent following the Prograis fight but acknowledged that Zuffa held the advantage in promoting him moving forward.

He also expressed his desire to return to 147 pounds to challenge WBC welterweight champion Ryan Garcia next.