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Promoter Eddie Hearn has praised the development of Conor ‘The Destroyer’ Benn, saying he believes he is on the verge of a world title shot.
Welterweight Benn 20-0 (13) is set to take on Chris ‘The Heat’ van Heerden 28-2-1 (12) at the AO Arena in Manchester, England on Saturday night.
It follows the 25-year-old’s stunning fourth-round knockout of former WBO junior welterweight champion Chris Algieri in Liverpool in December.
Part of the reason van Heerden was selected as an opponent is because he is a southpaw. WBC and IBF champion Errol Spence Jr and WBO boss Terence Crawford are both lefties.
“The growth of Conor Benn is astonishing. I don’t say that disrespectfully, but when I first watched him… to think he’s on the verge of a welterweight world title is incredible,” Matchroom Boxing boss Hearn told The Daily Mail.
“It’s all down to his mindset, his work ethic, the work [trainer] Tony Simms has done – and obviously the genes as well, they help. But this is his final test before he goes into the real deep end.
“Van Heerden is a very tough, very game, technically sound fighter, who will be there as long as he can be there. It will be a tremendous fight.
“You need southpaw experience when you talk the likes of Jaron Ennis, Errol Spence – all these great fighters. You can’t just jump into your first-ever southpaw being Errol Spence or these kinds of guys.”
Van Heerden hasn’t fought since his no decision against Jaron Ennis in December 2020. That fight was cut short in the first round when the 34-year-old South African was unable to continue after suffering a cut from and accidental clash of heads.
“Van Heerden, his last fight was against Jaron Ennis, on Showtime, in Ennis’ 26th fight,” Hearn continued. “And for me, Jaron Ennis may be the best welterweight in the world. Now people are saying this is an easy fight for Conor Benn. I’m like, wow, now you rate him. A year ago people were saying he’s overhyped but now people genuinely rate him.”
Benn has had to battle to get out of the shadow of his famous father, former world champion Nigel ‘The Dark Destroyer’ Benn. But after six years in the pro game he seems to be finally getting the respect he deserves as a genuine world title contender.
If successful against van Heerden, the next step is expected to be a fight against a former world champion to further prime him for a tilt at one of the major titleholders.
“This will be his last little test before he jumps in with a Kell Brook, a Mikey Garcia, Danny Garcia, an Adrien Broner, a Keith Thurman – one of those elite names,” Hearn said.
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