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Welterweight contender Conor ‘The Destroyer’ Benn 20-0 (13) has labelled Chris ‘The Heat’ van Heerden 28-2-1 (12) “frail” ahead of their clash at the AO Arena in Manchester, England on Saturday night.
The 25-year-old Benn weighed in at 146.5 pounds. South African southpaw van Heerden, 34, scaled 145.75 pounds.
“He looked frail to me. He looked slim to me. It doesn’t make any difference. He can come in heavy, he can come in light, I don’t read that much into it,” Benn said to iFL TV.
“I think that’s all he possesses is the southpaw style, but apart from that, I’m confident of my ability.”
Benn has been linked to a host of other boxers in the summer, including Adrien Broner, Kell Brook and Danny Garcia, all former world champions. That would be the next logical step for the son of British boxing royalty Nigel ‘The Dark Destroyer’ Benn as he closes in on a world title tilt.
But the younger Benn insist he is not looking past van Heerden, the first left-handed fighter he will face as a pro.
“I just focus on who they put in front of me. My eyes don’t sway anywhere else,” Benn said.
Another boxer keen on face Benn is European welterweight champion David Avanesyan 29-3-1 (17). The 33-year-old England-based Russian won the title against Kerman Lejarraga in March 2019 and has defended the belt five time with victories over Lejarraga in a rematch, Jose del Rio, Josh Kelly, Liam Taylor and Oskari Metz. All of those victories came by knockout not later than the sixth, including three first round knockouts.
Despite Avanesyan’s success, Benn is looking elsewhere for future opponents.
“We’re in a different situation than [Frank] Warren and his mob,” said Benn when asked about David Avanesyan. “They’re doing their own thing. I feel like I’m doing the right thing and have a bright future. Who else is he [Avanesyan] going to fight?”
The popular Florian ‘Albanian King’ Marku 11-0-1 (7) is another boxer angling for a shot at Benn. The IBF International welterweight titleholder has built a solid fanbase in the UK where he has fought his entire career apart from his pro debut.
Benn says he would rather see Marku and Avanesyan face each other.
“We are challenging the big names. We do want the big names. I’ll fight whoever they put in front of me—the bigger the name, the better. I’m not interested in either of them [Avanesyan and Marku]. They can fight each other. How about that?
“Stop calling me out. You two fight each other. Go on. How about you fight Ekow [Essuman]. Stop worrying about what I’m doing. I’m eating good. I’m not worried about what you’re doing.”
The Benn vs van Heerden fight will be broadcast on DAZN.
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