Boxing
Conor Benn overwhelms Sebastian Formella toward dominant unanimous decision
Sharp, systematic destruction.
Conor Benn used just that to overwhelm Sebastian Formella toward a unanimous decision at SSE Arena, Wembley in London on Saturday night. Judges had it 100-91, 99-91 and 99-92 after 10 rounds all in favor of Benn, who improves to 17-0 with 11 KOs.
Although he didn't get the stoppage, Benn outclassed Formella in every aspect of the fight from movement and speed to precise punching and especially power shots that landed with bad intentions. Benn opened the fight cranking up and digging left hooks into Formella's body, softening up the German, and sneaking in some shots upstairs as well. During the second round, Benn drew blood from Formella's nose by using an up jab, with crisp, precise shots right down the middle for good measure, too.
The damage would only increase from there, as Benn totally disregarded Formella's power and walked through his punches to land power shots of his own. The right uppercut became a massive weapon that he used to detonate onto Formella's chin during the third round and Benn never let his foot off the gas, threatening a stoppage with an onslaught in the sixth, before cruising toward the dominant victory. Formella survived with his durable chin and pure guts, but the gash under his left eye was part of the proof of just how one-sided the bout was.
"I'm not going to blow everybody out," Benn said about not getting the stoppage. "I'll wear 'em down."
"I just beat a former world champion who went the distance with Shawn Porter," he added of Formella, who lost a unanimous decision to Porter in August.
From there, the 24-year-old Benn promised the best is yet to come, as he called out Josh Kelly, saying that's "the only fight I'm interested in" at the moment.
Co-main event: Fabio Wardley flattens Richard Lartey with second-round TKO; Heavyweight
Wardley split Lartey's guard with a crisp left jab that landed flush. Seconds later, Wardley wrapped a left-right hook combination around Lartey's gloves, with each shot banging off the African boxer's head and the right dropping him with a thud. Statement made, as Wardley improves to 10-0 with nine KOs.
Alen Babic crushes Tom Little by third-round KO
Babic assaulted Little with a barrage of punches that dropped him twice in the third round before the fight was stopped. Babic improves to 6-0 with six knockouts.
