Conor Benn has vowed to shut out the noise and bring back his “spiteful” old version on his latest return to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday.
Benn will face former light-welterweight world champion Regis Prograis in a 150lbs catchweight contest live on Netflix and under the promotional banner of Zuffa Boxing, a joint venture between UFC chief Dana White and Saudi Arabian kingpin Turki Alalshikh.
The 29-year-old from Essex sent shockwaves through the sport in February when he split from long-term promoter Eddie Hearn and it has sparked an ongoing back-and-forth in public since.
However, Benn opened the door to a reconciliation with Hearn on Thursday and promised to switch full-focus to Prograis despite WBC welterweight champion Ryan Garcia waiting in the wings.
With the main recent memory of Benn his two classic fights with Chris Eubank Jr at a heavier weight, the slimmed-down ‘Destroyer’ wants to live up to his name in north London.
“I am extremely spiteful. I am a fast starter, I am going to come out from the get-go to really impose myself and if I see an opportunity to close the show early, I am going to take it,” Benn said.
“I had become a better fighter to beat Eubank and not fight the same fight. That is what I did. As for this fight, you’re going to get the old welterweight Benn back. The performances against (Chris) Algieri, (Chris) van Heerden, Samuel Vargas.
“It is the weight I have been most dangerous at my whole career. The Eubank fight was the exception to the rule. I could not give the public any other fight than the Eubank fight and I still don’t think any world title will trump the victory over Eubank.
“I still don’t think winning a world title will beat the fight of the year. But it’s now time for me to come back down to my natural weight, get that world title and solidify my legacy. And, ultimately, Regis is my world title shot. He is in the way of my world title.”
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There was doubt cast about Prograis being Benn’s opponent after rumours circulated about a potential injury for the boxer from Louisiana.
Prograis said: “Not injured bro. Listen, in camp things happen, you’re not going to be 100 per cent in camp, but I pushed past it. I am not injured and everything is fine.
“For me, I don’t even know where it came from, but whatever. I am good and I am fighting on Saturday.”
This will be a full-circle moment for Benn after he fought on the undercard of Prograis’ fight with Josh Taylor at O2 Arena in 2019, but most of the questions this week have been about Garcia.
“That future doesn’t happen unless I handle business on Saturday,” Benn waid.
“Everyone asking me about Garcia, mandatory, yes it is a mega fight, yes it is a monstrous fight, yes I believe I can take care of Garcia but I have my hands full on Saturday.
“I believe I will take care of Regis.”
