Prograis certainly left its mark. Benn came through, but he didn’t come out as a guy you’d be wary of now. More like someone who had to duke it out against a wilted, smaller opponent.
It was a robbery. Shakur Stevenson is one of the most intelligent ring generals today, and that intelligence clearly extends to the business side of the sport. He smelled blood in the water.
Benn got the win tonight, but it was the type of win that lowered his stock rather than raising it. By getting on his hind legs immediately after the final bell, Shakur hijacked the narrative: Instead of the boxing world talking about Benn’s struggle with a 37-year-old Prograis, they started talking about a Stevenson-Benn fight.
He forced Turki Alalshikh’s hand. By tagging the most powerful man in boxing, Shakur gained a public endorsement that essentially puts him above Benn in the eyes of the person who signs the checks.
Stevenson has not been linked to Benn in recent weeks, but the performance opened the door. Benn got the win, but it came against a 37-year-old opponent who is moving up in weight and wearing visible wear and tear. The rounds were competitive, and Benn didn’t separate himself in a way that was expected against that level of opposition at this stage.
Stevenson made his point directly on social media: “If he makes it 12 rounds with me I’ll be disappointed in myself 😂.”
Turki Alalshikh replied: “You are now the best in your division, no doubt about it👍🏻🥊.”
At 140 and 147, that version of Benn would struggle against several top names working at a higher pace with cleaner punching. Even some fighters at 135 would present problems given the technical requirements.
Tonight’s performance suggests that the evolution we’ve been hearing about for years is mostly promotional polish.
Benn seems to have hit a plateau. Against a faded Prograis, he still struggled with the same fundamental issues that had been there from the start. He still relies on jabbing with power shots rather than setting them up with a sophisticated jab or finesse.
When Conor isn’t throwing, he’s a target. We saw it repeatedly tonight. He doesn’t have the head movement or footwork to navigate the elite counterpunchers at 140 and 147. When the A plan of physical intimidation does not immediately subdue an opponent, he seems lost for a B plan.
Benn showed tonight that he is a domestic to fringe world level fighter who is marketed as a superstar, and Shakur Stevenson saw it. If he can’t dominate a 37-year-old moving up in weight, how does he survive a prime shark at 147?
