On this week’s Battle Speak – your weekly repair of boxing information – we glance again at Conor Benn’s knockout win over Chris Algieri on Saturday and talk about what’s subsequent for the British welterweight.
Plus, there’s response to wins for boxing superstars Katie Taylor and Vasiliy Lomachenko, and Tyson Fury is as much as his previous methods as he takes the mic to sing glad birthday to promoter Bob Arum earlier than coming face-to-face with fellow heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk in New York.
‘Essentially the most improved fighter within the UK’
From the second Conor Benn turned skilled in April 2016, the welterweight had some extent to show.
Son of Britain’s beloved former world champion Nigel Benn, with the surname got here each added expectation and scrutiny.
In 2018, in his tenth skilled bout, Benn was floored twice within the opening spherical en path to a factors win over Frenchman Cedrick Peynaud.
With simply 22 beginner bouts beneath his belt and already displaying vulnerability within the skilled ranks, few – if any – followers felt Benn would ever step out of the shadows of his dad.
However over the previous 13 months, Benn has silenced these critics. He adopted a powerful determination win over Germany’s Sebastian Formella in November 2020 with an explosive first-round knockout victory over Colombian Samuel Vargas – a person who had floored Amir Khan – in April.
In September, Benn put in a disciplined efficiency to beat American Adrian Granados on factors.
Then on Saturday evening in Liverpool, the 25-year-old stopped former world champion Chris Algieri with a fourth-round spotlight reel knockout that showcased energy and technical capacity.
Algieri’s solely earlier defeats have been in opposition to Briton Khan, Filipino nice Manny Pacquiao and undefeated American famous person Errol Spence Jr.
At 37, the American’s greatest days could also be properly behind him, however Benn’s scientific show demonstrated the Briton’s credentials on the high stage.
Benn’s efficiency and enhancements within the skilled recreation earned the reward of those former world champions…
Benn’s father is just not solely a two-weight world champion however a fighter who, on the peak of his profession, could possibly be thought-about a family title who transcended the world of boxing.
“That is the battle the place Conor made his personal path. He isn’t in my shadow no extra,” Nigel Benn mentioned post-fight.
This heart-warming footage captured the second he witnessed his son’s brutal knockout win…
Who’s subsequent?
The welterweight division is full of expertise, with pound-for-pound American star Terence Crawford holding the WBO title and fellow undefeated American Spence Jr the WBC and IBF champion.
Cuba’s WBA ‘Tremendous’ champion Yordenis Ugas is a winnable battle for Benn however there’s speak of a British showdown with winner of Khan and Kell Brook. The previous world champions and long-time rivals will lastly face one another in Manchester on 19 February.
“Are you able to think about what Conor Benn would do to Amir Khan? Oh my God. Actually, it will be over inside two rounds,” Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn predicted.
“As quickly as he hit him on the chin, as quickly as he hit Amir Khan, it will simply be brutal.”
Benn has been linked with a harmful battle in opposition to British-based Russian David Avanesyan. It is a conflict that excites hardcore boxing followers however that will not be as profitable as a bout with Khan or Brook.
For Benn, nonetheless, there’s one man high of his want listing…
The 32-year-old Adrien Broner is a four-weight world champion who – regardless of 4 defeats on his document – is an enormous draw. A win for Benn would undoubtedly introduce him to audiences stateside.
The brash Broner oozes confidence. Coupled with Benn’s intense manner each out and in of the ring, it will be an exhilarating match-up in 2022.
Taylor strikes step nearer to Serrano
Additionally on Saturday evening, the undisputed satisfaction of Eire Katie Taylor defended her light-weight titles with a hard-fought factors win over Firuza Sharipova.
“It was OK. However a win is a win; these opponents could be banana pores and skin kind opponents as properly. Necessary challenges are at all times difficult,” mentioned the WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO and The Ring champion.
Regardless of the below-par efficiency, there’s a whole lot of love for Taylor, one of the crucial embellished feminine boxers in historical past and a consummate skilled…
Taylor’s subsequent opponent is more likely to be American star Amanda Serrano, with promoter Hearn predicting the mega-fight will occur at New York’s Madison Sq. Backyard in April 2022.
Serrano is up for it, as lengthy she overcomes the problem of Spaniard Miriam Gutierrez – who misplaced to Taylor in November 2020 – on Saturday…
However some really feel 35-year-old Taylor is now on the decline and her dominance over ladies’s boxing could possibly be nearing the tip…
Loma stars on return as Fury entertains New York crowd
Ukraine’s Vasiliy Lomachenko reminded the doubters of his class on Saturday evening with a terrific factors win over Ghana’s Richard Commey in New York.
Former light-weight world champion Lomachenko misplaced his belts to American Teofimo Lopez in October 2020, and is now trying to reclaim the the WBA, IBF and WBO titles with a battle in opposition to Australian champion George Kambosos Jr.
However Lomachenko’s win was not the one speaking level at Madison Sq. Backyard.
With WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk travelling to New York to help his pal, Britain’s WBC champion Tyson Fury had a message for the Ukrainian…
True to his phrase, Fury left his Morecambe dwelling and hopped on a airplane throughout the Atlantic.
Ever the showman, Fury acquired within the ring to sing glad birthday to 90-year-old Prime Rank promoter Bob Arum…
His singing was virtually as loud as his outfit.
As Fury posed for an image with Arum, Usyk stealthily crept up behind his fellow champion and the 2 embraced and shared some seemingly pleasant phrases…
Fury seems to be set to battle Briton Dillian Whyte subsequent, whereas Usyk is more likely to rematch former champion Anthony Joshua.
Ought to they each win, a Fury-Usyk conflict in 2022 would see two of probably the most entertaining and unpredictable characters in world boxing collide.
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