Conor Benn: “I want a legacy-defining fight”
Undefeated welterweight Conor Benn (22-0, 14KO) spoke to Kugan Cassius of IFL TV to discuss his next fight with American Peter Dobson (16-0, 9KO) on February 3rd in Las Vegas.
The 27-year-old Conor Benn from Essex shared his delight to be heading back to the ring early into the New Year against Peter Dobson, “It’s exciting for me to get back out, doing what I do, doing what I love, and, yeah man, just excited to get back out; Stateside especially, that’s where all the world titles are, so I’m on that hunt.”
33-year-old Bronx boxer Dobson hasn’t fought in a professional boxing ring for 20 months due to a sideline venture in the Team Combat League during 2023. Despite being unbeaten in 16 fights, it’s not the opponent everyone was expecting Benn to face next, but extended talks with long-term rival Chris Eubank Jr. broke down, causing promoter Eddie Hearn to find a replacement for February 3rd.
“Listen, it ain’t really down to me,” explained Benn. “You know, I say yes to any man whoever they present to me, and he was amongst a few names and that was the name that was picked, you know, that’s the name I’m gonna fight.
“As long as he’s got two arms and two legs, I don’t really care. Obviously, it’s not the ideal opponent everyone wanted, but he took the fight on six weeks notice, so credit to him when many turned it down.
“If it was down to the public, they would’ve thrown me in for a world title three fights in, but unfortunately there’s a lot of other factors that play into making the big fights; the mandatories… do they wanna fight me? It’s not always just about ‘yeah, let’s make the fight’ and the fight gets made, you know, other people may not want the fight, different promotions… there’s so many different factors, you know, and money has got to be right.
“I’ll fight anyone, I was willing to go up to 160lbs to take a big fight, I’ll sure as hell fight anyone at 147lbs. I’ll fight whoever, I want the biggest names, the biggest fight possible, I want a legacy-defining fight. Unfortunately, that’s not Feb 3rd, but it’s a step in the right direction to securing the world honours.”
Conor then indicated that the Eubank fight is not going to be in his immediate plans anytime soon and also revealed exactly why the fight didn’t materialise despite such extensive dealings.
“I’m not really too involved in the negotiations, I’m a fighter, my job is to fight. ‘Is that the man? Yes. No problem. Is that the amount? Yes. No problem. Run it up a little more then we’re good.’ And that’s that. Then I just concentrate on the training and the fighting.
“I’m disappointed in the fight not happening, but it’s the fight I’m gonna give the fans – the big names, the big fights… There’s a lot of talk about me fighting these big names and why are they not happening? I’m ready to go for any of them!
“I feel like I’m the one that’s giving everything away here, I’m coming up two weight divisions. That fight takes me off-course originally where we was set out to go, so we’ll see what big names are there at 147lbs, and I think it’s a matter of time before I capture what’s mine and get that strap around my waist, and, for me, that’s what’s important.
“Who knows what the future holds but right now I’m on that hunt and I’m not going to be sidetracked by this or by that. Money comes and go and legacy stands.”