Boxing
Conor Benn calls out Amir Khan; Eddie Hearn admits he would love to make the fight
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Conor Benn delivered a post-fight interview every bit as concise and exhilarating as his in-ring performance at The Copper Box on Saturday night.
Welterweight prospect Benn faced another test of his credentials in the form of Samuel Vargas, who has shared the ring with many former world champions. Many tipped "The Destroyer" to win, but hardly anyone saw a first-round stoppage on the cards.
That emphatic statement was followed by words from the son of former super-middleweight king Nigel Benn that made his future intentions crystal clear.
“Statement made. No-one has banged him out in one round – easy, easy,” Benn said ringside after his most important win to date. “Give me a proper test. Give me Amir Khan. I know he is too busy on reality shows and all that. If he wants it, he can get it."
Right there alongside him was promoter Eddie Hearn, who liked what he was hearing.
"You have to be ready to take a big jump. Amir Khan is a big jump. It's an absolutely huge fight," Hearn added. "The issue is that when you beat someone like Vargas, like that, the next fight, it's a top-15 ranked fighter in the world, and that's what Amir Khan is, so why not fight a domestic fight like Amir Khan?
"Conor Benn against Amir Khan is probably one of the easiest fights to sell, I'll ever take part in. What an intriguing fight. A young kid coming up, as you can tell, is rather amped and charged against a guy that is really at the end of his career and has a fantastic legacy in the sport.
"Whether Amir Khan will say, 'I want to bow out to a young man coming through the ranks like Conor Benn.' That's up to him and money will talk in that respect. For me, I want to get [Benn] back out as soon as possible."
While Hearn was diplomatic in questioning whether Khan — who recently said he only has eyes for either longtime rival Kell Brook or the legendary Manny Pacquiao before retiring — would agree to face Benn, Sky Sports pundit and former cruiserweight champion Johnny Nelson was far more blunt.
"Look at what Conor did to Vargas there, I'm telling you right now: Amir Khan would not fight him," stated Nelson.
"He'd beat Shawn Porter. He'd beat Adrien Broner. Timing is everything. He's 24 years old! With each fight, this kid gets better and better. He gets hungrier and more dangerous."
When asked if Khan would view Benn as 'high risk, low reward', Nelson concurred: "Absolutely. Why would he? He won't get in there with that boy. He's far too dangerous."
