Former two-time junior welterweight champion Prograis, 37, agreed to meet Benn at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on April 11 after receiving the offer at short notice. The fight will take place above the divisions where both fighters have spent most of their careers, but Prograis said the change doesn’t affect him and could actually work in his favor.
Prograis spent years competing while cutting down to make the 140-pound limit. Fighting closer to his natural size, he believes, could allow him to carry more power in the ring.
“Don’t be surprised if I’m stronger,” Prograis told Fight Hub TV while discussing the bout. “I am now at my natural weight.”
He added that sparring with heavier fighters during training has long been a part of his preparation and influences how he views the match with Benn.
“Don’t be surprised if I’m stronger than him,” Prograis said, explaining that fighting close to his everyday weight can change how the fight feels once punches start landing.
Benn, 29, takes part in the competition after signing a major deal with Zuffa Boxing earlier this year and has drawn huge crowds in the UK during recent appearances. The April event at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is expected to draw another big crowd for the welterweight contender.
Prograis said the weight terms were never a reason to hesitate once the opportunity presented itself. His view is simple: if the fight can be won, the exact number on the scale is secondary.
“I know I’m better,” Prograis said while discussing the decision to accept the fight.
The fight will mark Prograis’ first appearance above the junior welterweight limit in several years. Competing without a draining cut, he said, could allow him to feel fresher and stronger in the ring than he often did while fighting at 140.
April 11 will determine whether that belief holds up once the bell rings, but Prograis has already made it clear that he doesn’t expect the size difference to favor Benn once the fight begins.
