Khan worried for Conor Benn ahead of Samuel Vargas fight

By Boxing News - 04/05/2021 - Comments

By Barry Holbrook: Amir Khan has some serious concerns about Conor Benn ahead of his 10-round fight this Saturday night on April 10th against the hard-hitting Samuel Vargas on DAZN and Sky from the Wembley Arena in London, UK. The action for the Benn vs. Vargas card kicks off at 2:00 p.m. ET.

Benn (17-0, 11 KOs) is taking a slight step up in class in taking on Vargas, a fighter that is coming off a seventh-round knockout loss to Vergil Ortiz Jr in July of last year.

Vargas 31-6-2, 14 KO) has been in with far better opposition than Benn, some of which would likely beat him. Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn is counting on Benn’s heavy hands, youth, and toughness carrying him to victory against Vargas, but he could be wrong.

If Benn loses to Vargas, his confidence could be shot, and his career may not be the same afterward.

Khan was dropped in the second round by Vargas in their fight in September 2018 in Birmingham, UK, and he had to fight tooth & nail to earn a 12 round unanimous decision.

Granted, Vargas, 31, has lost two out of his last four fights since the Khan bout, but he still figures to be dangerous for the inexperienced 23-year-old Benn because of his punching power and experience.

Khan rates Vargas as dangerous for Benn

“I think it’s a massive step-up for Conor Benn,” said Khan to Sky Sports News on Benn’s fight against fringe contender Samuel Vargas. “I think Conor will have his hands full in that fight.

“Since obviously after he fought me, he has been in one or two difficult fights, Samuel Vargas, and he’s been beaten after I beat him. But I still think he’s a dangerous operator,” said Khan.

Benn looked good in his last fight, beating Sebastian Formella by a 10 round unanimous decision last November.

The German welterweight Formella had lost his previous fight to former IBF 147-lb champion Shawn Porter by a 12 round unanimous decision in an equally one-sided affair.

Benn’s performance compared favorably with Porter’s, but it’s difficult to say whether that means anything. Formella showed no power in either fight and was there to be hit all night by both guys.

If Benn is victorious against Vargas, he’d like to fight Khan, Kell Brook, or Josh Kelly.

Brook would be the most dangerous of the three, as he can still punch, and he’s a lot better than what he showed in his last fight in November against WBO welterweight champion Terence Crawford.

Samuel Vargas has losses against Khan, Luis Collazo, Vergil Ortiz Jr, and Danny Garcia. Except for Collazo, who well past it when they fought, Vargas has only lost to quality operators.

Other fights on the Benn vs. Vargas card:

  • Shannon Courtenay vs. Ebanie Bridges
  • Savannah Marshall vs. Femke Hermans
  • Alexander Espinoza vs. Ukashir Farooq
  • Nick Campbell vs. Petr Frohlich
  • John Hedges vs. Stanko Jermelic