Conor Benns Future Path

[Taansend]

Personally I don't think he can safely make Welter anytime soon. But he seems adamant that he can & he knows his body better than I do.

Other than the Norman Haney winner I'd have him on a par with the likes of Crocker, Barrios & Romero.

The latter is the fight I'd like to see most but Rolly seems to be on a spiritual path or something right now.

Benn & Crocker share a promoter, don't they? No idea what Barrios next move is.

As for Light-middle, he'd be better off staying at Middle rather than going up against the killers in that division.

And while I think of it (on an unrelated note) if you had a head to head between the Champions at 147 & 140 you'd have a 3-1 or 4-0 win for the lighter boys.

WBC - Barrios v Matias
WBA - Romero v Russell
IBF - Crocker v Hitchens
WBO - Norman v Lopez

[MPW]

Not sure about Benn going back down to 147 safely and healthily, but I agree he should stay away from 154.

Maybe staying at 160 is the best option for him. He did look good against Eubank Jr in both fights but maybe that was a case of shining against a weight-drained, faded boxer. If he was to stay at MW, Benn could test the waters against the likes of Oliha, McKenna, or Gualtieri.

[Coco]

It does depend how well he can do welter.

Crocker would be the easiest fight for him. Also it would be the easier and best paying fight for Crocker.

Obviously now Benn is box office and will earn well wherever.

If he can't do welter, Ennis would be a big money fight, but less than Eubank and with no chance of winning.

[Ruthless-RKO]

I mean.. 147 wasn’t what it once was. Can he beat some of them guys? Definitely. Will he attempt to unify? Who knows.

154 will be dangerous for him, but making 147 might be even more dangerous.

He hasn’t weight anywhere near 150 for 3-4 years.

[CaptainSpacerod]

He’s still not worthy of being anywhere near world level fighters. At domestic level he’s in the mix.

If he stays at 160 does he beat Nathan Heaney ? Yeah probably but he loses the ringwalk again. Denzel ? Not imo no. I haven’t seen much of Liddard but I think he’d give him a good fight.

At 154 I think it’s possible that Ishmail walks right through his feather fisted shots and gets to him. Josh Kelly I’m not so sure if he has the cojones to beat Benn on a big occasion.

At 147 Catterall would pick him apart. Crocker might stop him and Donovan would probably out box him.

[goose 5]

Barrios is limited; Benn has a very good chance against him. Same with Romero and Ryan Garcia. Benn and Manny Pac would be huge in England.

[dr_devious]

He'd have a great chance against Crocker if he can get down to 147 in reasonable shape

[jameswilson]

I think trying to make 147 again is going to be a shock.

[smiling assassin]

He'd have a great chance against Crocker if he can get down to 147 in reasonable shape

Would he have a great chance of besting Crocker? Benns done nothing since egg gate Crocker has just beat a very good fighter in Paddy Donovan. Granted he got lucky to get the rematch but it’s still a better win than what Benn has

[golden_labrador]

reckon he should continue the Jake Paul path of fighting older, shot, weight-drained opponents (and pissing hot)

[KiwiRider]

He will probably return to his hand picked list of paper opponents, and eventually retire with nothing on his resume and plenty in his bank account.

[gilgamesh]

Going back to 154 or staying at 160 would be smarter than going back to 147.

[smiling assassin]

Going back to 154 or staying at 160 would be smarter than going back to 147.

There’s good fighters at 154 he will get battered, 160 is no different. If he can’t do 147 he might as we well do misfits

[gilgamesh]

Going back to 154 or staying at 160 would be smarter than going back to 147.

There’s good fighters at 154 he will get battered, 160 is no different. If he can’t do 147 he might as we well do misfits

160 definitely ain't got the guys that 154 has. Erislandy Lara is quite beatable, but I'd imagine his reign is only a few short weeks from being over.

Barrios and Romero are very, very weak titleholders.

I still don't know how good that Janibek dude is at Middleweight. 154 with Boots and Ortiz are the biggest fights in the weight range.

[KiwiRider]

Going back to 154 or staying at 160 would be smarter than going back to 147.

There’s good fighters at 154 he will get battered, 160 is no different. If he can’t do 147 he might as we well do misfits

160 definitely ain't got the guys that 154 has. Erislandy Lara is quite beatable, but I'd imagine his reign is only a few short weeks from being over.

Barrios and Romero are very, very weak titleholders.

I still don't know how good that Janibek dude is at Middleweight. 154 with Boots and Ortiz are the biggest fights in the weight range.

I get what you're saying Gil, but this is a guy who has ducked domestic titles. He may, or may not even be the best at 147-160 in his own country.
If he does get to line up a big opportunity at any weight, he just doesn't have enough egg free power to trouble most of those guys.

[gilgamesh]

I've honestly only ever seen Benn in these 2 Eubank fights. Kid didn't look bad in either of those.

Whether he can win any big fights or not, I certainly think I'd give it a whirl if he's able to get a few more wins. You're generally gonna make more money to lose to a big name than you would to beat up 4 or 5 guys that aren't particularly known.

[Taansend]

Who did he duck, Kiwi?

Genuine question. I have no idea.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Who did he duck, Kiwi?

Genuine question. I have no idea.

He means, he was a complete novice and he skipped Area, English, British, Commonwealth and Euro level. And thinks he world level because he won a WBA regional belt and defended it against the likes of Van Heerden and Algieri.

Got him a nice ranking, but we don’t know what level he’s at really.

He hasn’t fought any hungry fighters.

[gilgamesh]

I do think these 2 fights with Eubank have certainly made him better though. I'd imagine these were the 2 most strenuous training camps he's gone through, and the 1st bout with Eubank was definitely his toughest fight to date. Coming through a tough fight, and doing well even in defeat will generally boost a guy's confidence, and see him raise his game a little. That's one thing people ain't giving Benn any credit for. He fought a smarter fight than he did the first time, and did look sharper and more in control of himself and his strategy.

Whether he'll be able to get it done later against other Top competition only time will tell, but I do think Benn has legitimately raised his game in these 2 bouts and will be better going forward than he'd been.

[smiling assassin]

I do think these 2 fights with Eubank have certainly made him better though. I'd imagine these were the 2 most strenuous training camps he's gone through, and the 1st bout with Eubank was definitely his toughest fight to date. Coming through a tough fight, and doing well even in defeat will generally boost a guy's confidence, and see him raise his game a little. That's one thing people ain't giving Benn any credit for. He fought a smarter fight than he did the first time, and did look sharper and more in control of himself and his strategy.

Whether he'll be able to get it done later against other Top competition only time will tell, but I do think Benn has legitimately raised his game in these 2 bouts and will be better going forward than he'd been.

He gets no credit from me last night. Eubank looked so so poor and he didn’t get him out of there

[gilgamesh]

Well we'll see where he's at next time. What kinda competition they target for his next bout will be quite telling as well. If they go right back to relatively soft opposition it must mean someone in his managerial team agrees with you that it was all a bit of smoke and mirrors.

[gregregegg]

@147 barrios is a pretty weak champ, that’s the fight.

Then if you win try to defend vs pac or ryan Garcia

@154 it’s Josh Kelly, Thurman and the tszyu brothers.

Honestly… he would make a deacent Jake Paul opponent too.

I still want him to fight eubank 168 no hydration clause, end the trilogy.

[Taansend]

Who did he duck, Kiwi?

Genuine question. I have no idea.

He means, he was a complete novice and he skipped Area, English, British, Commonwealth and Euro level. And thinks he world level because he won a WBA regional belt and defended it against the likes of Van Heerden and Algieri.

Got him a nice ranking, but we don’t know what level he’s at really.

He hasn’t fought any hungry fighters.

Aaahhh, got it.

I was actually just thinking about this today after hearing of Kaylors passing. Back then going for the British, Commonwealth & European titles were just the route you took if you were serious about a World title shot. That was how you did it.

Nowadays with four main belts, and each one of them having secondary (or more belts) in addition to inter-continental etc etc the three aforementioned belts almost seem an afterthought.

I wouldn't really label it 'ducking'. That implies that's the only route. Now the fighters have more options.

I genuinely have no idea if Benn is any good on a World level. I know he's better than I thought he was, or at least tougher. I was impressed with his speed & footwork last night but we'll see how that works against a young hungry fighter.

[KiwiRider]

Who did he duck, Kiwi?

Genuine question. I have no idea.

He means, he was a complete novice and he skipped Area, English, British, Commonwealth and Euro level. And thinks he world level because he won a WBA regional belt and defended it against the likes of Van Heerden and Algieri.

Got him a nice ranking, but we don’t know what level he’s at really.

He hasn’t fought any hungry fighters.

Thanks Ruthie
Yeah that's pretty much it. Ducking easily available local opponents, instead forking out money to face the ghost of Chris Algeri for example.
A very carefully curated career with no real accolades. When it's all said and done, what's in his byline?

[Ruthless-RKO]