By Charles Brun: Manager Sam Jones thinks it’s crazy to include Shawn Porter’s name when Conor Benn was calling out different fighters last Saturday night after his first-round knockout win over Samuel Vargas at the Copper Box Arena in London, England.
Jones was surprised to hear the inexperienced Benn (18-0, 12 KOs) saying he wants t fight Porter, Amir Khan, and Kell Brook.
He doesn’t view the 24-year-old Benn as capable of defeating any of those three fighters for lack of experience. We don’t know how serious Benn was when he started calling out fighters, though. He may have been just clout-chasing.
Jones thinks that Benn’s stoppage win over the 31-year-old Vargas was stopped prematurely. That’s something that many boxing fans agree with as well. They think Vargas could have survived if the referee hadn’t halted it.
Benn’s promoter, Eddie hearn, will need to fight someone good if they’re going to sell it on PPV.
Jones: Johnny Nelson’s shout was insanity
“He did amazingly well, Conor,” said Sam Jones to iFL TV. “Good luck to Conor Benn. He’s being built as the next pay-per-view star.
Who knows what his limit is going to be. That’s the thing about the British public. We lost perspective so quickly. He gets a few good wins, and then ‘he’s to beat Shawn Porter.’
“Johnny Nelson’s shout was pure insanity. Josh Kelly that is a good fight to make. You heard the talks yesterday. Amir Khan, he’s past his best. Amir Khan was a world champion at the same age as Conor is now.
“Kell Brook is past his best. There were no talks of [David] Avanesyan, was there? Let’s be honest. There was not even a murmur of David Avanesyan because it’s a bridge too far for him,” said Jones about Benn not capable of dealing with Avanesyan. ”
“If he’s a bridge too far for him, what on earth do you think Shawn Porter is?”
Indeed, Benn didn’t call out David Avanesyan last Saturday after his win over Vargas. That should have been the first name out of Benn’s mouth after the Vargas fight.
Benn’s promoter Eddie Hearn said he would like to see him fight for the EBU welterweight title.
For some reason, Hearn didn’t bother mentioning Avanesyaan’s name, which is strange because he’s the EBU welterweight champion. Avanesyan destroyed Hearn’s fighter Josk Kelly in six rounds last February.
Johnny Nelson may have forgotten how good Porter looked in his fight with Errol Spence Jr in 2019. He came close to beating him, and that shows you how much Porter has left.
It’s hard to know what Nelson was thinking when he talked of Benn being capable of beating Porter.
You could understand Nelson saying that if Benn had just beaten someone talented like Jaron Ennis or Vergil Ortiz Jr, but that wasn’t the case. He beat journeyman, Samuel Vargas.
If Porter can fight at the same level as he did against Spence, Benn would be in deep trouble against him.
Khan and Brook would beat Benn.
“Josh Kelly is a big fight. Josh Kelly simply lost to the better man [Avanesyan] on the night,” said Jones about Kelly’s knockout loss to Avaneysan. “Samuel Vargas is just known for losing to the top guys.
“He came over, and Conor Benn did a job on him, as I said, a little bit premature. He looked fantastic last night, but a shout to Shawn Porter, I don’t even know what to say about that.
“I was like, ‘Really?’ He’s [Benn] not even had a domestic fight yet, Conor Benn. Impeccable matchmaking by Matchroom boxing.
“I can understand why they would look to Amir Khan because Amir Khan of old against this Conor Benn, in my opinion, Khan would win hands down, as would Kell.
“Conor is still developing. The Shawn Porter shouts, I just don’t see that. They need to keep developing him and put him in the right fights,” said Jones.
It’s hard to say that Khan and Brook would beat Conor Benn right now because both guys are looking so shot.
Khan (34-5, 21 KOs) hasn’t fought in two years, which was against lightweight Billy Dib in 2019. But if Khan has anything left, he’ll give Conor problems.
Brook would be the favorite if the fight were held at 154 because that’s his division he’s comfortable fighting at now.
Kell has the boxing skill, power, and experience to beat Ben if he’s not drained.
Conor’s next fight heading to pay-per-view
“Amir Khan won’t fight Conor Benn because Amir Khan is a proud guy,” Jones continued. “Why should Amir Khan be used as a gatekeeper to the pay-per-view and to the top level.
“I don’t think he deserves or Kell Brook. They might well take it. Adrien Broner. I’m a big fan of Adrien Broner, but he’s not looked his best for a long time.
“He [Broner] was lethal at 135, then he went to 140, and he was very good. 147 was a bridge too far for Broner.
“I’d like to see Conor Benn with Josh Kelly still. They’re [Matchroom] going to keep matching him [Benn] right, and they’re going to keep building him.
“His next fight is probably going to be a pay-per-view fight, so let’s see. It’s going to have to be a big one if it’s on pay-per-view.
“I’m still interested in the Josh Kelly situation. Eddie was saying a potential European title fight for Conor.
“Well, they’re going to have to tell Avanesyan to vacate it or something because he [Benn] won’t fight Avanesyan,” said Jones.
If Benn’s next fight will be on Sky Box Office pay-per-view, he’s going to need to fight someone good.
You can bet Eddie Hearn will try hard to get Josh Kelly, Amir Khan, Adrien Broner, or Kell Brook to agree to fight Conor. Those are opponents that Benn can fight on Sky Box Office.
Brook would be the most dangerous of the bunch, depending on how well he makes the weight. Benn would have an advantage against Brook because he’s no longer able to fight at 147 without weakening him.