Boxing
Regis Prograis drops Benn Size Edge before the fight
At Friday’s weigh-in in London, Prograis weighed 148 pounds and Benn was slightly heavier at 149½. The numbers were similar, but the discussion about physical advantages had intensified throughout the week, fueled by Benn’s recent runs with heavier weights.
When asked about the fight, Prograis immediately dismissed the issue.
“Everyone was trying to show that he was the huge bad guy, but we are literally the same size,” Prograis said. “I have a better CV. I have better skills.”
This response shifts the focus from physical differences to experience. Prograis, a former two-time champion, pointed to his time at the top level as a deciding factor, while questioning whether Benn had faced comparable opposition.
“Conor Benn hasn’t shown us anything at a world level yet. So this is a step up for him,” he said.
Benn, who has been fighting at middleweight in his last fights, said the weight cut is achievable and even suggested he may go lower in the future. The fight, scheduled for 10 rounds at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and broadcast on Netflix, now has a different twist.
The meeting suggested otherwise. Standing face-to-face, the 37-year-old Prograis looked like a smaller man, with Benn appearing broader in the shoulders and thicker across the frame before rehydration. On stage, the difference was noticeable, not subtle.
This gap is expected to widen once the fight begins. Benn, 29, has performed at heavier weights in recent fights and will likely be significantly heavier on fight night, potentially getting closer to the 170-pound range.
This would give him a distinct physical advantage in terms of strength and endurance, something that Prograis will have to deal with in addition to experience and skill.
Size is no longer the focus. The question is whether Benn can match a player who believes the difference comes down to levels.
Dmitry Bivol’s delicate heavyweight schedule is improving again, and the WBO’s latest move could delay both the trilogy with Artur Beterbiev and the fight that David Benavidez has publicly pushed for since his victory over Gilberto Ramirez.
The WBO confirmed this week that unified delicate heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol will be ordered to defend against interim titleholder Callum Smith after his May 30 fight against Michael Eifert in Russia. If the sanctioning body doesn’t change its stance, it will leave little room for the fight that Benavidez has been targeting since Bivol vacated the WBC belt earlier this year.
Bivol has not fought since defeating Artur Beterbiev in a rematch for the undisputed delicate heavyweight title in February 2025. He was later stripped of the WBC title after opting for a trilogy fight with Beterbiev rather than face mandatory challenger David Benavidez.
A back injury then delayed Bivol’s return and created more movement around his remaining titles. Now the WBO appears ready to move his must-see to the front of the queue.
Hello, Sir. The WBO will force a mandate on Smith in the case of Bivol after Eifert. Regards.
— Gustavo Olivieri, Esq. (@OlivieriLaw) May 21, 2026
Timing is tricky for Benavidez, who has made no secret of his desire to fight Bivol after moving between delicate heavyweight and cruiserweight. A mandatory defense against Smith would also postpone the long-discussed trilogy with 41-year-old Beterbiev, whose window for a third fight is getting smaller with time.
Smith was originally scheduled to face David Morrell in April, with the winner expected to move into position to fight Bivol later this year. Smith withdrew due to injury, and Morrell instead fought Zak Chelli on May 9. In one of the biggest upsets of the year, Chelli stopped Morrell in the 10th round.
Olivieri also stated that if Bivol refuses to fight Smith, the WBO will instruct Smith to fight “the next highest-ranked contender” for the vacant title.
Bivol’s schedule was already full after losing the WBC belt. If the WBO moves forward, he could soon be forced to choose between retaining another title or finally resolving his unfinished business with Beterbiev.
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Last updated: 22/05/2026 at 14:08
Boxing
Terence Crawford gives novel verdict on Canelo’s comeback fight against Mbilla: ‘He wants to prove himself’
The video of him lifting Opetaia on the sand is pure gold for his image. Opetaia is a powerful cruiserweight, so seeing Crawford pick him up like a sack of potatoes shows that the ancient wrestling and incredible functional strength are still there. This gets people talking about how perilous he still is.
Crawford says he’s had enough, and maybe he really is. He has already dropped Jaron Ennis, which makes sense because he has nothing to prove against younger players. But while remaining close to Turki Alalshikh and these massive international events, he does not leave the door open. If a huge, ridiculously lucrative opportunity ever comes along that really interests him, it never really leaves the public eye. Just making sure that if he ever decides to accept the offer, the price remains astronomical.
This is the ultimate masterclass in staying relevant without risking anything. Crawford knows exactly how this industry works. If a retired fighter stays at home, the audience moves on to the next substantial thing within a few months, but when you fly to Egypt and find yourself in the middle of a massive season production in Riyad, you completely control the narrative.
Think about the calculations here. Crawford avoids juvenile, hungry challengers like Jaron Ennis who want to operate his legacy as a springboard, and yet he ensures he’s the most talked about guy on the sand, lifting an elite cruiserweight like Opetaia. It sends a noisy and clear signal to promoters and networks that Crawford remains a major physical force and box office attraction.
Standing shoulder to shoulder with heavyweights, Terence keeps his wrestling at the highest level. He sets himself up so that if he ever decides to lace up the gloves again, he won’t come back just for a standard payday loan.
BUD X OBETAIA 🤼
Just Terence Crawford and Jai Opetaia arguing in front of the Giza pyramids 😂
Glory in Giza | May 23 | LIVE on DAZN 🥊 pic.twitter.com/CXaV0rSgbm
— Ring Magazine (@ringmagazine) May 22, 2026
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