Benn won a tougher-than-expected unanimous decision over 37-year-old former 140-pound world champion Prograis at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, but Hearn suggested the fight exposed the limitations of the weight.
“Regis could barely get up. He ended up being forced into a fight he shouldn’t have been in, and Conor will be disappointed he didn’t stop him,” Hearn told professional boxing fans of the injured Prograis after the loss to Benn.
“I actually kind of like Conor at heavyweight. I’m not sure what’s going on with him down there,” Hearn said of Ben fighting at 150. “He looked like he had no power at all. I thought he looked a lot stronger and full of energy at 160.”
The top tier of the welterweight division features five talented fighters who could pose a problem for Benn. Based on these results, placing Benn alongside the likes of Jaron Ennis and even bottom-15 powerhouses at 154 would be a huge step forward. The aura is gone, and Hearn’s reaction suggests he already knows it.
“Is that so? I’m sure it was a one-fight deal,” said a smiling Hearn, reacting to the interviewer’s words: “Apparently his [Benn] one fight contract [with Zuffa] is over.”
Hearn’s smile at the thought of the upcoming Zuffa deal is like that of a man who is cheerful to let someone else take care of his headache. There is a huge difference between a player who is an asset and a player who is an exorbitant liability.
His comment about Benn’s lack of power at the lower weight is the biggest sign of trouble.
If the investment fails to produce a return due to destitute performance, the promotional enthusiasm immediately disappears.
Benn admitted that he had to lose significant weight to get to a catchweight of 150 pounds. If he looked exhausted and tender against the smaller Prograis, Zuffa probably suspects he’ll fall apart against elite 154-pounders like Jaron Ennis and Sebastian Fundora.
Zuffa and Dana White focus on punches. Benn’s inability to stop the stationary, injured veteran suggests he may have reached his ceiling, making him a bad buy for a franchise that relies on dominance.
While pundits like Ariel Helwani suggested the one-fight contract was the start of something longer, Hearn’s dismissive statement, “I’m sure it was a one-fight contract,” sounded like someone who expected it to end there.
If Zuffa wants Benn back, it will probably cost less. After a $15 million purse, this is a demanding reset that not every team agrees to.
Benn has already called up Ryan Garcia for September, but this type of fight requires support. If Zuffa is not sold, it will either be moved to another platform or not manufactured.
Robert Segal is a boxing reporter at Boxing News 24 with over a decade of experience covering fight news, previews and analysis. Known for his first-hand reporting and in-ring perspective, he delivers authoritative coverage of champions, challengers and emerging talent from around the world.