CHRIS VAN HEERDEN is the frontrunner to face Conor Benn, Boxing News understands, on a show the UK star expects to headline on April 16.
Bennโs team has also been in talks with Maurice Hooker and Robert Guerrero but those former belt-holders are less likely to get the fight with the Briton next. Van Heerden has been inactive in recent years but has a respectable 28-2-1 record. The important thing for Benn is to be busy himself. He intends to fight at least three times this year.
Benn says heโs happy to box anyone. โAnyone, anyone top 10, anyone. Iโd have [Yordenis] Ugas next. Iโd have anyone,โ he told Boxing News. โI just leave it to my team to pick the opponent and I go okay, letโs go.โ
โIt will be in the month of April [when he fights]. Weโll just keep working hard, keep grafting and when the opportunity presents itself, as in a fight date, then weโll make sure weโre ready,โ Benn said.
As well as London, heโs open to headlining in other cities across the country, whether itโs Liverpool, where he fought last, Manchester, Newcastle or elsewhere. โItโs just nice that Iโm able to fight in front of the fans up North,โ he says. โ[The support] is overwhelming. Itโs like what did I do to deserve this? I think I just give people value for money and I love to entertain the public. I fight with my heart on my sleeve.
โIt just encourages me that what Iโm doing is right and I love the public for it. Itโs just warming. Itโs very warming for me.โ
Benn has also suggested an unlikely fight with Chris Eubank Jr, the son of Chris Eubank, the legendary rival of Conor’s father Nigel Benn, at an 154lb catchweight. โItโs very realistic,โ Conor insisted. โIโm walking around at super-middle now so 154 is not problem for me to make at all.โ
It was watching Eubank Jrโs recent bout with Liam Williams that prompted Benn to make the challenge public. โIt was an awkward performance,โ he said of Eubank Jr. โAwkward to the eye thatโs for sure, in terms of it was just an odd fight.
โHe [Eubank] can fight but heโs an awkward boxer. He looks awkward to the eye but he can fight.โ