Boxing
Conor Benn told to reach for the stars after epic Eubank Jr victory... but warned he has a target on his back
Benavidez vs Yarde live on DAZN PPV - Nov 22
Conor Benn has been told his epic victory over Chris Eubank Jr has put him in sight of a world title shot – and made him a target for the best welterweights.
Benn overcame his bitter rival with a masterful display to secure a unanimous points win at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday night.
The 29-year-old always planned to end this rivalry and segue from middleweight down to welterweight to challenge for a 147-pound world title.
Benn listed Mario Barrios, Ryan Garcia, Rolly Romero and Devin Haney following his win over Eubank Jr and his promoter Eddie Hearn says the possibilities are now endless for his man.
When asked how close a world title fight was for Benn, the Matchroom Boxing supremo said: “It’s there.
“The heavyweights are sometimes a different kettle of fish but, as far as I’m concerned, Conor is right up there with some of the biggest stars, not just in British boxing but in world boxing.
“He’s just filled a stadium twice, his story’s incredible, and the emergence of him coming out of his father’s name, that’s the difficult thing to do.
“The future is so exciting and now we will go and do the science to get down to that weight because it’s just about making that weight but performing at that weight to the best of his ability.”
Hearn said Benn was now the target of the biggest names in the welterweight division.
“People were calling him out after the Chris Eubank loss – now he’s won,” continued Hearn.
“With all due respect to Haney, Norman, Rolly Romero and Lewis Crocker, who we represent, this is the star of the 147lb division.
“This is the money of the division – that’s why everyone’s calling him out – so we’re going to be just fine.
“But I know that every time he trains at home he’s got that WBC belt that his dad won up on the wall and he’s looking at that every day thinking ‘I’m going to get one of them!’
“The Barrios fight is there, the Crocker fight is there, the Haney and Norman fights are there, but we’re in such a wonderful position.
“We’ve got a big fanbase and a wonderful broadcaster behind us in DAZN, who backed him and they won as well on Saturday night, so thank you to their people.
“Conor is young, he’s hungry and he’s got another five, six or seven years left in the game. That’s the reality.”
Watch Benavidez vs. Yarde live only on DAZN
David Benavidez vs. Anthony Yarde headlines a star-studded Ring IV fight card in Riyadh on Saturday, November 22. Watch it exclusively on DAZN PPV.
