By Jack Tiernan: Unbeaten welterweight Conor Benn announced last Saturday night that he wants Adrien ‘The Problem’ Broner next after his brutal fourth round knockout win over Chris Algieri at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool, England.
The reaction is mixed from fans on the undefeated #7 IBF, #7 WBC & #10 WBA Benn (20-0, 13 KOs) calling out the 32-year-old Broner (34-4-1, 24 KO).
If Benn gets his wish to face Broner next, he’s expected to go after the winner or even the loser of the Amir Khan vs. Kell Brook fight. Last night, Benn said he wants the winner of the Khan-Brook match.
Benn wants Broner
Like the 37-year-old Algieri (25-4, 9 KOs), who was old and well past his prime by seven years, the 35-year-old Khan and Brook haven’t been relevant for years.
Some boxing fans believe that the former four-division world champion Broner is too past his prime for him to be considered a viable option for the 25-year-old Benn to take on, but let’s not get things twisted.
Choosing Broner is a business move because he’s widely known worldwide, he’s not a true welterweight, and he’s not likely to pose a threat to Benn’s career the way someone like Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis, Vergil Ortiz Jr., or David Avanesyan would.
If this was about developing Benn, the son of boxing legend Nigel Benn, he would be matched against Ennis, Ortiz Jr., or Avanesyan. Those are the guys that will help Benn’s career, but that’s not what he and management are looking at.
They want the easy money fights and Broner will bring them that without the risk that would come from fighting young and talented contenders at 147.
“People keep asking me who I want next and the man I want next is Adrien Broner,” said Conor Benn on social media.
“I’ll leave it to my team to make that fight, but I’m sure they’ll do everything possible to make that happen,” Benn continued. “They offered AB a lot of money six months ago and I’m sure we can increase that offer.
“That’s the man I want next. If we can make that in the States, let’s have it or we can make it in Britain at the O2 Arena. Either one works for me,” said Benn.
Hearn says Benn becoming a star
“It was a brutal knockout, but I hope Chris is okay,” said Eddie Hearn to iFL TV on Benn’s fourth round knockout win over Algieri last Saturday night. “That’s how you become a star.
“He didn’t just stop him, he cleaned him out,” Hearn continued. “I looked on social media and Conor Benn is trending number one across everything. Millions of people have already seen the knockout, and that’s how you become a star.
“You don’t become a star by going in and fiddling around for 12 rounds. You go in by brutalizing people but it was the whole nature of the performance. It was the movement, the defense, the footwork, and the way he set up his right hand,” said Hearn about Benn.
Broner hasn’t fought since beating Jovanie Santiago by a 12 round unanimous decision last February. In that fight, Broner looked rusty, and not the fighter he’d been in his prime nine years ago.
If Conor wants to develop himself in a true way to keep improving, he needs to focus on relevant opposition like these fighters:
- David Avanesyan
- Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis
- Vergil Ortiz Jr
- Abel Ramos
- Keith Thurman
- Danny Garcia
The talent in the 147-lb division is kind of thin right now, but the guys that are at the top would be tough obstacles for Benn right now.
The next move will be my best move!!!!!!
— Adrien Broner (@AdrienBroner) December 11, 2021