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Conor Benn agrees to fight world champion amid Chris Eubank Jr rematch concerns
An impromptu meeting between Conor Benn and WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson saw the two fighters agree to a bout in November, if the former’s rematch with Chris Eubank Jr does not go ahead.
Benn's camp have suggested that a contracted rematch with Eubank Jr has not been finalised, despite Turki Alalshikh’s recent announcement of a fight for September 20.
Eubank Jr was victorious over Benn in what proved to be a firefight back in April, with both fighters dishing out and receiving plenty of damage.
Despite never having challenged for world title honours, Benn’s stock has risen in the boxing world, with three-division champion Stevenson keen on stepping up to 147lbs to face the Brit.
Benn said he watched parts of Stevenson’s win over William Zepeda last weekend, teasing his potential opponent by suggesting that he had been ‘clipped’ by the Mexican.
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Speaking on The Ariel Helwani Show, Benn goaded Stevenson by saying: “Well done (for beating Zepeda), because it was sort of entertaining. Especially the part where you got clipped and almost went over, that was really entertaining.
“Zepeda almost knocked you out. I saw the legs buckle. I thought, 'at 135lbs this guy thinks he can come up to 147lbs and fight me?' We ain’t close to the same size. Listen, I’ll come back down and fight you at 147 in November.”
Stevenson was bullish about his chances of beating Benn, responding: “November? Yeah, I’m down….After I beat you, just tell me I’m great.
“I hate watching you fight. I don’t learn s**t. You don’t teach me nothing. There’s nothing I can learn from watching Conor Benn.
“All I’m saying is, we get in the ring, there’s gonna be a big skill gap.”
Benn’s promoter Eddie Hearn, who has previously represented Stevenson, suggested that a fight between the pair would fill out a big stadium in the United Kingdom.
However, as much as Hearn was keen for the contest, he stated that multiple fighters would be interested in fighting Benn.
“We love that fight,” Hearn told Helwani. “Listen, we ain’t gotta worry about Conor Benn. He’s one of the biggest stars in boxing right now.
“Everyone wants to fight him. Brian Norman Jr, Devin Haney, Teofimo Lopez, Shakur Stevenson, Richardson Hitchins, Ryan Garcia – Conor Benn is the hot stuff in the division right now.
“The fight with Shakur, I love it. That’s a massive stadium fight in the UK. We got plenty of options.”
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