Boxing Apr 20, 2026

Conor Benn grinds out unanimous decision victory over Regis Prograis on Tyson Fury vs Arslanbek Makhmudov undercard

👤
By Admin
Sports Journalist
Conor Benn grinds out unanimous decision victory over Regis Prograis on Tyson Fury vs Arslanbek Makhmudov undercard

Conor Benn defeated former world champion Regis Prograis on the undercard of Tyson Fury’s comeback bout at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Benn won a unanimous decision, 98-92 for all three judges, and Prograis announced his retirement shortly after the contest.

Benn was revisiting the ground where he concluded his rivalry with Chris Eubank Jr last year, moving down to an 150lb catchweight after those two middleweight contests with Eubank.

Prograis, a gifted two-time world champion at super-lightweight, is in the twilight of his career and was moving up in weight for this fight. But he had enough wiles in his work to give Benn plenty of food for thought.

The southpaw found holes in Benn's defence, landing his left to the head at times and hitting to the body.

Head clashes opened up cuts for Benn as well, giving him a further challenge to contend with.

But Benn's youthful energy and consistent aggression saw him through. He swung freely with hooks, driving blows into Prograis' trunk too.

Prograis felt his power. Benn staggered him with a one-two on the bell at the end of the first round and Benn would bomb his right cross through the middle as the fight progressed.

The American's left cross knocked Benn back a step in the seventh round, but then Benn's right drove Prograis off just the same.

At the start of the ninth round he harried Prograis, working with jabs. He rattled a long right hook round the former champion's ribs and reeled off a brace of lead lefts.

As the bout drew to a close, Prograis was having to rely on cussed resilience. Only good fighters, Josh Taylor, Devin Haney and Jack Catterall had beaten him before, but none of them had managed to stop him.

He held out against Benn too. With blood from his cuts masking his face, Benn chopped hard right and left hooks to Prograis' chin but the American took the hits to last the 10-round distance.

Richard Riakporhe became a two-time British champion, and announced himself as a potent threat in the heavyweight division when he dispatched Jeamie TKV in five rounds.

TKV came in as the defending champion after his victory last year over Frazer Clarke and he looked to crowd Riakporhe. But the latter launched his booming right to trouble him in the early going of the contest.

The contest grew scrappy as TKV hustled forward and caught Riakporhe up in clinches. TKV was admonished by the referee and deducted a point for leading with his head.

Riakporhe soon took matters into his own hands. A clubbing right round the side of the head saw TKV stagger to the canvas and slide away on his knees.

With Riakporhe going in to finish, TKV tried grabbing him in a hold, only for Riakporhe to toss him to the canvas.

The challenger smashed in a huge right and threw the back hand again. His left hook hit hard, the right swept across with massive force and as he struck with his left and then an uppercut the referee prised them apart, ending the fight at 2-12 of the fifth round.

"The plan is to carry on knocking these guys out. I want to challenge for the world title, I'm keeping my eye on Fabio Wardley against Daniel Dubois - I'd love to fight the winner," Riakporhe declared.

But he also called out Johnny Fisher, saying: "I want to offer them the opportunity to fight for this belt, it's here for you."

Justis Huni edged out Frazer Clarke on a majority decision after their 10-round heavyweight clash.

One judge had them level 95-95 but the other two had Australia's Huni winning 96-94.

Clarke however emerged from the defeat with credit. He had pushed Huni, a high calibre heavyweight contender, close.

That was especially significant as Clarke was coming into this fight after a punishing loss to Jeamie TKV for the British heavyweight title in his last fight. The trajectory of the Olympic medallist's future career was in the balance.

Under pressure Clarke boxed with some assurance from the centre of the ring. But it was Huni's hand speed that proved the difference. The Australian whipped in his rapid left and varied his work well from the head to the body.

Clarke switched up a gear at the end of the fourth round, clipping Huni with a combination and then heaving in hooks to the body and an uppercut to the head.

In the ninth round a fine right cross from Huni slammed into Clarke and the Australian cracked in his right uppercut, a punch he'd utilised well.

Clarke sought to chase him down in the last round but Huni finished the bout moving on his feet, satisfied with his work.

As disappointing as the result will be for Clarke, it was a much improved performance for him in a first fight under new trainer Joe Gallagher.

Tags:

boxing news

Share this article

Related Posts

Moses Itauma already one of the best heavyweights in the world: 'I feel like I am. I just have to prove it'

Moses Itauma already one of the best heavyweights in the world: 'I feel like I am. I just have to prove it'

Moses Itauma is gearing up for what could be a landmark year. He wants to establish himself as one of the very best heavyweights in the world."I feel...

Tyson Fury: I was happily retired, but there’s nothing like a UK stadium fight | 'Makhmudov's in trouble!'

Tyson Fury: I was happily retired, but there’s nothing like a UK stadium fight | 'Makhmudov's in trouble!'

Tyson Fury keeps trying to quit boxing. Yet, of course, just when he’s out, it pulls him back in.Fury insists he never meant to come back to boxing. Y...

Tony Bellew backs Anthony Joshua to beat Tyson Fury: 'He’s the one with the destructive power of the two'

Tony Bellew backs Anthony Joshua to beat Tyson Fury: 'He’s the one with the destructive power of the two'

Anthony Joshua can still beat Tyson Fury, says former world champion Tony Bellew.Fury that he is willing to take on his British rival Joshua after hi...

Callum Walsh: The rising Zuffa Boxing star wants to risk his record: 'Then if you're undefeated it means something'

Callum Walsh: The rising Zuffa Boxing star wants to risk his record: 'Then if you're undefeated it means something'

Callum Walsh is at the vanguard of Zuffa Boxing's advance into the sport.Zuffa is a new promotional entity, headed by Dana White, that has just agreed...

Oleksandr Usyk to fight Fabio Wardley vs Daniel Dubois winner, then Tyson Fury| 'We're up for that!' says Frank Warren

Oleksandr Usyk to fight Fabio Wardley vs Daniel Dubois winner, then Tyson Fury| 'We're up for that!' says Frank Warren

Promoter Frank Warren intends to open negotiations for Oleksandr Usyk to fight the winner of Fabio Wardley's world title clash with Daniel Dubois.Usyk...

Tyson Fury says Anthony Joshua can be his next fight after Arslanbek Makhmudov: 'If it can be made, let's get it done!'

Tyson Fury says Anthony Joshua can be his next fight after Arslanbek Makhmudov: 'If it can be made, let's get it done!'

Tyson Fury has welcomed Anthony Joshua’s return to training, and insisted their all British mega-fight can be made next.After a year in retirement Fur...