Boxing
Tony Bellew says Conor Benn should fight Josh Kelly if he passes Adrian Granados test
Conor Benn vs. Adrian Granados is live on DAZN
The next 12-18 months of Conor Benn’s career should include Josh Kelly and David Avanesyan. That’s the verdict of Tony Bellew, who will be ringside on Saturday night as Benn faces Adrian Granados exclusively live on DAZN.
Bellew, the former WBC cruiserweight champion, has been a long-time admirer of the Essex fighter and he’s been on hand to provide support and advice at different junctures of Benn’s career.
As a novice professional with limited amateur experience, Benn has had to learn on the job from day one. Following two impressive wins against Sebastian Formella and Samuel Vargas, Benn faces Granados fully aware that victory can elevate his status further.
The welterweight division, a weight category historically filled with great fighters, has some of boxing’s finest fighters operating at the business end, but Bellew believes that Benn should look closer to home if he’s successful against Granados.
“I love the Josh Kelly fight for Benn and I think it’s a fight that fans would also pay to see,” buzzed Bellew when speaking exclusively to DAZN. “Let’s not forget, before he lost to Avanesyan. Kelly was being talked up as one of the best prospects in British boxing. Him against Conor with the winner pushing on would be a brilliant fight to make.”
Bellew added, “If Benn can be successful against Kelly, then the natural fight to make would be against Avanesyan. I think that’s a fight he’ll be ready for in the next 12-18 months and that’s the route he should take.
“It’s okay wanting to push him to the top against the big names like Terence Crawford and Errol Spence but we need to remember that he’s still a young fighter climbing the rankings. What he’s done so far has impressed me massively but there doesn’t have to be a rush with him.
"There’s some brilliant fights that can still be made for him domestically and Kelly is the one I like.”
