Conor Benn Torn: Eubank Jr. or Haney Showdown?

Image: Conor Benn Torn: Eubank Jr. or Haney Showdown?
January 30, 2024; Las Vegas, NV; Conor Benn and Peter Dobson face-off at the iconic Las Vegas sign for their upcoming fight. The bout will take place on February 3, 2024 at the Chelsea at the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas, NV. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland/Matchroom.
By Daniel Mcglinchey - 02/02/2024 - Comments

Conor Benn says he’s unsure which direction to go after his headliner fight this Saturday night against Peter Dobson on DAZN in Las Vegas.

On one hand, the 27-year-old highly ranked Benn (22-0, 14 KOs) wants to return to the welterweight division to potentially face Devin Haney. On the other hand, he feels he’s got unfinished business with middleweight Chris Eubank Jr.

Hearn’s Big-Money Push for Eubank Jr.

Benn’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, has been chomping at the bit for him to face Eubank Jr., believing it’s still one of the biggest fights in boxing despite Chris Jr having done next to nothing in recent years other than beating an old Liam Smith.

Hearn still believes British fans are interested in paying to watch Benn fight the 34-year-old Eubank Jr., and that’s the match-up that he’ll be pushing for to happen next for Conor.

Fans see that as an irrelevant celebrity-level match-up, making them wonder if Hearn has confidence in Benn’s ability to compete at the world level at 147.

Fans don’t take Eubank Jr. seriously because he’s done zero with his career. He has chiefly operated at the domestic level, making easy coin while staying away from world-level fighters.

Hearn’s push so hard for the Eubank Jr. clash suggests that he doesn’t think Benn can hang with the elite at 147 against Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis, Terence Crawford, or even Devin Haney from 140.

If Hearn believed in Benn, he wouldn’t be so doggedly determined to shovel old guys like Eubank Jr., Kell Brook, and Liam Smith into his craw.

Benn’s Internal Conflict

“I’m torn. I want to return to 147, but I want to have a straightener with Chris Eubank Jr., ” Conor Benn told iFL TV about who he wants to fight next after his match against Peter Dobson on Saturday night.

“We can make that fight. Bill Haney is the one who mentioned my name. I never mentioned [Devin] Haney’s name. It wasn’t even on my radar. If you want the fight, the fights there,” said Benn, reacting to being told that Bill Haney is interested in matching his son, Devin, against him.

“His weakness is his mouth,” said Benn about what he knew of Peter Dobson. He does too much talking. That’s it. I’ll do what I have to do. He can run; he can come through it. It’s not going to make any difference to my approach.”

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