Prograis announces retirement following Benn loss

Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption,

Saturday's defeat by Conor Benn (left) would prove to be Regis Prograis' last fight

ByBen RamsdaleBBC Sport journalist

Published1 hour ago

Former world champion Regis Prograis has announced his retirement at the age of 37.

The two-time super-lightweight world champion was beaten convincingly by Conor Benn at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday night and then revealed the fight would be his last.

"Going in, I knew I was going to retire," the American told Ring Magazine. "This is my last fight. I knew this months ago - I just didn't tell anybody but I was terrified going into this.

"It's a great fight to be my last against someone like Conor Benn, someone that was strong - an arena like this with 70,000 in a stadium. I couldn't ask for a better going away party, perfect end to my story."

There were reports circulating prior to the fight that Prograis was hurt, which he confirmed following the defeat, saying he thought about pulling out as little as 24 hours prior to the bout.

He added: "The rumours about me being hurt were true. I wanted to pull out of this fight so bad a month ago but kept pushing. I was terrified and thinking about pulling out even yesterday."

Prograis retires with a 30-4 record, with 24 victories by knockout.

He held the WBA super-lightweight title in 2019, and WBC super-lightweight crown from 2022 to 2023.