Josh Taylor says Regis Prograis ‘lengthy completed’ forward of Conor Benn combat

“Regis Prograis is lengthy completed in my view,” Taylor stated to Boxing Information. “He’s not the fighter he as soon as was and hasn’t been for some time.”

The 37-year-old former two-time 140-lb champion Prograis has suffered a number of defeats lately and has not appeared like the identical fighter who pushed Taylor to a detailed determination of their combat seven years in the past. Taylor stated the change in Prograis’ kind makes Benn’s alternative of opponent a puzzling one.

“I don’t need to sound disrespectful, however I simply say it how I feel it’s,” Taylor stated. “He’s not the fighter he as soon as was.”

The Scottish fighter instructed the motivation behind the combat is easy. Studies have circulated that Benn may earn an enormous payday for the bout, and Taylor believes the monetary supply explains the matchup.

“It’s a really unusual transfer aside from monetary achieve,” Taylor stated. “If I used to be provided that form of cash, I’d take it as nicely. So you’ll be able to’t blame Conor for that.”

Taylor acknowledged that Prograis nonetheless has the expertise to trigger some early difficulties, even when he not views him as the identical risk he as soon as was within the junior welterweight division.

“He’s nonetheless fighter, and he may make it awkward firstly,” Taylor stated. “However I can’t actually see something aside from a Conor Benn win.”

The 2 beforehand met at tremendous light-weight in 2019, when Taylor edged Prograis by determination in a aggressive unification combat that topped the Scot as a champion.

From Taylor’s perspective, nevertheless, that model of Prograis not exists. Benn’s upcoming combat on April 11, he instructed, displays the realities of recent prizefighting greater than a gathering between two fighters at their peak.

“Hey, it’s prize preventing,” Taylor stated. “If the cash’s there, fighters are going to take it.”

Taylor’s view might sound harsh, but it surely displays how some fighters see Regis’ current run within the ring. Whether or not that judgment proves appropriate can be examined as soon as Benn and Prograis step into the ring.