Matchroom Boxing can confirm that Conor Benn’s WBA Continental Welterweight Title clash with former IBO Welterweight World Champion Sebastian Formella will now headline on Saturday, November 21 at The SSE Arena, Wembley, with all of the action shown live on Sky Sports and DAZN.
‘The Destroyer’ (16-0, 11 KOs) scored two big knockout wins in 2019, firstly obliterating Jussi Koivula with a brutal second-round stoppage in his first headline fight at York Hall in June, and then explosively knocking out Steve Jamoye in four rounds at The O2 in October.
Formella (22-1, 10 KOs) went on a 22-fight winning streak, picking up the IBO Welterweight crown against Roberto Arriaza in January earlier this year, before taking two-time World Champion Shawn Porter the distance in his first career defeat in August.
After two quick wins on the spin, unbeaten Croat Alen Babic (5-0, 5 KOs) looks to continue his red-hot run of form with another big knockout win, this time against Hatfield’s Tom Little (10-8, 3 KOs), who has been in with some huge punchers including Filip Hrgovic and Daniel Dubois.
“It’s been a busy period, but I don’t want to rest; I want to fight,” said Babic. “Tom’s a cool guy; he’s a warrior. We’ve exchanged messages on social media, but that won’t hold me back, ‘The Savage’ is waiting to be released and score another KO.”
“Alen makes too many mistakes,” said Little. “I’ve boxed at a much higher level, and it will show. “I’ll be too much for him; this is too early in his career. I’ve been training for a while now with this fight in the back of my mind, so I’m prepared. The so-called Savage won’t hear the final bell.”
Fresh from winning the English Heavyweight Title with a third-round stoppage of Simon Vallily at Fight Camp, Ipswich talent Fabio Wardley (9-0, 8 KOs) takes on Ghana’s Richard Lartey (14-3, 11 KOs) – a former opponent of Dubois and Nathan Gorman.
“Lartey’s a great opponent for me at this stage of my career,” said Wardley. “He’s a powerful and durable opponent that will definitely look to test me and take me into the later rounds. You’ve seen in his previous fights that he’s not shy of a tear up, so there may be moments in the fight when I’ll have to bite down on my gum shield and get stuck in, which I can’t wait for!”
Following the disappointment of his fight with Christopher Lovejoy falling through at the last moment, Heavyweight fan favorite Dave ‘White Rhino’ Allen (18-5-2, 15 KOs) returns to the ring looking to end the year on a high.
Also on the card, Leeds Featherweight prospect Hopey Price (3-0, 1 KO) returns after his win over Jonny Phillips on Fight Camp Week 2, and Donnington’s Liam Davies (7-0, 2 KOs) battles Liverpool’s Sean Cairns (7-2, 1 KO) for the English Bantamweight Title.
Adam Smith, Sky Sports Head of Boxing Development, said: “Conor Benn is back, continuing his exciting journey next Saturday night, live on Sky Sports. Of course, we fondly remember his father Nigel, a former World Champion, and we’ve covered Conor’s career since the very start.
“He’s an explosive young talent, so get ready for more fireworks when Conor collides with Sebastian Formella. Britain’s Welterweight division is really heating up with Josh Kelly and Chris Kongo, also waiting in the wings – and Benn will be hoping to seize his opportunity to impress on a big stage.
“There’s also a Heavyweight triple-header – Fabio Wardley can enhance his growing reputation against Richard Lartey, while Alen ‘The Savage’ Babic battles Tom Little, and Dave Allen also returns in a thriving top division. It should be another superb evening of action on Sky Sports.”
Benn becomes first ever UK athlete on an Everlast apparel deal
Everlast Worldwide, the world’s leading manufacturer, marketer and licensor of boxing, MMA and fitness equipment, announced today that they have signed an exclusive multi-year fight sports equipment and sports apparel deal with the rapidly-rising British boxing talent Conor Benn.
The agreement represents an historic moment for Everlast’s expansion into Europe that sees Benn appointed as the first ever male athlete in the UK to be placed on an apparel agreement. Benn will wear Everlast’s iconic boxing gloves and specialist boxing apparel in his fights, training and sparring and leisure.
The 24-year-old from Brentwood, Essex, currently holds a perfect 16-0 record with 11 KO’s and is the latest athlete to join Everlast’s elite roster of champions and contenders in the #TeamEverlast family.
Ahead of his highly-anticipated WBA Continental Welterweight title defence this Saturday against German Sebastian Formella at the SSE Wembley Arena, Benn was thrilled to announce the deal.
“I’m delighted to announce our long term partnership. Everlast are a boxing brand through and through just like the Benn name.” He said. “Everlast have supported world champions before me and have shown great amounts of belief in me to do the same. I’m thankful for their support and truly excited for the journey ahead.”
Known as ‘The Destroyer’, boxing is embedded in Benn’s DNA with his legendary father Nigel, a former Two-Time and Two-Weight World Champion, hailed as one of the most exciting boxers Britain has ever produced.
Since turning professional in spring 2016, all-action Benn has quickly established himself as one of British boxing’s most exciting young prospects through a string of entertaining and explosive victories that have made him a fans’ favourite.
Benn is world ranked in the 147lb division that holds some of the world’s best boxers including #TeamEverlast athlete and one of the top pound-for-pound greats, the unified World Champion Errol Spence Jnr.
Chris Zoller, Everlast’s Chief Marketing Officer, said, “Conor is a really exciting athlete and personality whose work ethic and fearlessness represents what we’re all about. We can’t wait to get started and for what the coming years will bring.”
To keep updated on Conor ‘The Destroyer’ Benn and other #TeamEverlast fighters, head to: www.everlast.com/pro-team