One other weekend in Las Vegas.
One other shot at redemption for Conor Benn.
The unbeaten second-generation welterweight was navigating unscathed down the prospect-turned-contender path halfway by means of 2022 – beating the requisite and acquainted gatekeepers alongside the way in which – when he bumped into what’s been a career-defining impediment.
As almost each fan, hardcore or informal, has heard by now, the son of the previous two-division champ noticed a high-profile showdown with British rival Chris Eubank Jr. scuttled when he twice turned up optimistic for the banned substance clomifene.
The substance is often prescribed to deal with infertility in girls, however, based on the Nationwide Institutes of Well being, it may not directly enhance testosterone ranges in males and might mitigate some uncomfortable side effects of artificial steroid abuse.
The missteps each took the Eubank struggle off the docket and value Benn his license with the British Boxing Board of Management, which he voluntarily relinquished after the failed exams.
He was suspended for a number of months by the UK Anti-Doping Company earlier than the ban was lifted and enabled him to return to the ring final fall in Florida, the place he unanimously outpointed Mexican export Rodolfo Orozco over 10 rounds – successful 9, 9 and 6 of 10 on the three scorecards – after a 525-day hole between fights.
The company contested Benn’s reinstatement and prompted the enterprise journey to the U.S., the place it was exercise, albeit not significantly spectacular exercise for the now-27-year-old, who’d spent the 17 months earlier than the ban dealing with a sequence of foes that included a once-beaten Sebastian Formella (UD 10), a skidding Samuel Vargas (TKO 1), revered veteran Adrian Granados (UD 10), and ex-title claimants Chris Algieri (KO 4) and Chris van Heerden (TKO 2).
The run helped get him to the No. 5 standing amongst contenders to WBC champ Terence Crawford that he has heading into return bout No. 2, in opposition to unbeaten New York native Peter Dobson, that’ll headline a DAZN-streamed present that begins Saturday at 3 p.m. ET.
For the file, Dobson is a pristine 16-0 with 9 KOs however hasn’t fought in 19 months and has by no means crushed an opponent approaching Benn’s degree. In reality, his 16 victims have a mixed file of 144-96-13, with 10 of them coming in off a loss and 5 off a number of losses.
Nonetheless, he and Benn can be primary eventers within the Chelsea Ballroom on the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, which was the location of a doubtful coronation for Rolly Romero final spring, and, extra lately, Gilberto Ramirez’s cruiserweight debut in opposition to Joe Smith Jr. in October.
It’s Benn’s third struggle within the U.S. – after visits to New York and Florida – and his first within the Nevada desert, the place his dad, Nigel, was unbeaten in two appearances, together with a first-round KO of Iran Barkley in 1990, between Barkley’s two defeats of Thomas Hearns.
“Headlining in Vegas is a dream come true, not only for me, however for any fighter who grew up watching the game of boxing,” he stated. “Vegas has been the stage for a lot of legends earlier than me, and I am unable to wait to step into that area.
“I by no means thought I’d struggle in Las Vegas, not to mention headline, so it’s nothing however a blessing. I’ve obtained a number of supporters in America, and I do know that folks can be touring over to see me. I sit again and rely my blessings, England is my residence, and I can’t watch for the homecoming, however on the similar time I’m embracing each step of this journey.
“It’s all a part of the story and I’m enthusiastic about what’s to come back.”
Benn’s promoter and chief hype man, Eddie Hearn, echoed his man’s menacing intentions.
“This can be a huge night time for Conor the place he can ship a message to the world champions and elite names that he’s able to take them on in 2024,” Hearn stated. “Conor has the itchiest of knuckles to get in there and he’s on a search and destroy mission in Las Vegas.”
Benn accomplished his pre-fight coaching on the lately rebranded Churchill x Matchroom Boxing Membership in Santa Monica, California, the place he was joined by countryman John Ryder previous to the previous tremendous middleweight title challenger’s latest blowout loss to Jaime Munguia.
Additionally in camp had been UK-based kids George Liddard and Jimmy Sains, who’ll seem in separate fights on Saturday’s undercard – Liddard, 21, in a six-rounder in opposition to Andrew Buchanan and Sains, 23, in a four-rounder with Alejandro Avalos.
Name it one other British invasion, with eight-ounce gloves.
“It’s thrilling to have 4 Essex boys going to Vegas with George, Jimmy and Johnny Fisher and his Bosh Military,” Benn stated. “I don’t assume that’s been accomplished earlier than and it exhibits the alternatives which have introduced themselves all through this course of. First Orlando and now preventing in Sin Metropolis, it’s nice to struggle within the States and get my title on the market over there.”
Assuming Benn clears the hurdle – and he’s a minus-1000 favourite to take action, based on DraftKings – he’s obtained far greater challenges on his agenda. In reality, although he’s behind Canada’s Cody Crowley, France’s Souleymane Cissokho, England’s Josh Taylor and Armenian David Avanesyan within the WBC queue, Benn desires to leap the road.
“We might make the Crawford struggle subsequent,” he instructed ESNEWS. “You wish to problem your self in opposition to the perfect.”
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This week’s title-fight schedule:
No title fights scheduled
Final week’s picks: 2-1 (WIN: Teraji, Collazo; LOSS: Dalakian)
2023 picks file: 49-19 (72.05 %)
Total picks file: 1,300-427 (75.27 %)
NOTE: Fights previewed are solely these involving a sanctioning physique’s full-fledged title-holder – no interim, diamond, silver, and so forth. Fights for WBA “world championships” are solely included if no “tremendous champion” exists within the weight class.
Lyle Fitzsimmons has coated skilled boxing since 1995 and written a weekly column for Boxing Scene since 2008. Attain him at fitzbitz@msn.com or observe him on Twitter – @fitzbitz.
