The former two-time champion initially said he was done after his one-sided loss to Conor Benn, yet he’s already talking about a return later in life. “I’ll come back in a few years when I’m like 40 years old,” Prograis said to Ring Magazine. He added that he won’t be fighting at 140.
His mentioning that it wouldn’t be at 140 pounds is the most realistic part of the plan. Making weight at age 37 is hard, but doing it at 40 could be even tougher.
“I think Conor Benn can become a world champion because anything can happen in boxing,” Prograis said. “But as for him as a fighter, he has some things to work on. He’s like a six out of 10. He’s not that good. He’s just not polished enough.”
Prograis pointed to timing and shot setup as the main issues. He said he could see Benn’s punches coming and brace for them, which made the rounds manageable even in a fight he lost clearly on the cards.
That’s important going into the talk around a fight with Ryan Garcia. Prograis didn’t pick a side, but he framed it as dangerous both ways.
“Garcia has power, but Benn does, too,” he said. “I don’t know how Garcia would react if he got caught. Both guys can hurt each other.”
Benn is currently positioned for a title shot at welterweight and got the win over Prograis. However, the performance didn’t quiet doubts. A slower, older Prograis still had moments where he read him clean.
The takeaway for Prograis is simple. He isn’t walking away forever, just kicking the bucket down the road. As for Benn, the lesson is clear. His power keeps him in the mix, but his technical game is still a work in progress.
