Conor Benn has been accused of “begging” to fight a world champion, only to then run “scared” and instead agree to collide with Regis Prograis.
It was announced last month that Benn will face the former two-time world super-lightweight champion on April 11, featuring on the undercard of Tyson Fury vs Arslanbek Makhmudov at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
This represents the 29-year-old’s first outing since signing a one-fight agreement with Zuffa Boxing. It came as a major shock when Benn announced he had parted ways with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing, ending their decade-long working relationship in pursuit of a reported $15 million deal with UFC boss and boxing’s latest big-time promoter, Dana White.
While Prograis comes off a solid win on paper, outpointing fellow veteran Joseph Diaz in August, many believe that Father Time has well and truly caught up with the New Orleans fighter.
Before the announcement of the fight, Benn had expressed his desire to take on WBA world welterweight champion Rolando Romero, and had clashed with him on several occasions.
Now expecting to face WBO champion Devin Haney in a unification match on May 30, Romero has explained to Last Stand Boxing why he believes the Benn fight ultimately fell through.
“It’s crazy because Conor Benn was over there begging for the fight. We were in complete talks.
“I didn’t wanna scare him, so I didn’t push him back – I didn’t do anything – and he got scared anyway … That [fight] was originally going to happen on May 30, but life happens.
“He just wants to play big tough guy. He’s not serious. He knows he’s not world level. And the thing is, he’d get exposed if he fought any single one of us at the top level.”
Benn, who comes off two middleweight outings against Chris Eubank Jr, will represent the naturally bigger and fresher man when he faces Prograis at a catchweight of 150lbs.
He has made it clear that his intention is to return to welterweight and fight for championship belts. Romero, Devin Haney, Ryan Garcia and Lewis Crocker are the current champions.
