Heavyweight legend Mike Tyson has shared his honest take on the boxing abilities of Conor Benn.
Benn suffered his first professional defeat when he came up short against fierce rival Chris Eubank Jr in the middleweight division. However, he evened the score in their rematch before announcing a move back to welterweight, a weight class he believes suits him best.
After parting ways with Matchroom Boxing and Eddie Hearn, “The Destroyer” made his debut with new promoter Zuffa Boxing in a 150-pound catchweight fight against Regis Prograis. The bout was viewed as a stepping stone on his path back down to 147 pounds.
Despite Prograis entering the fight with injuries, Benn couldn’t stop the New Orleans fighter and instead settled for a decision victory, which drew criticism from some fans.
Speaking with Casino.org, boxing icon Tyson labeled Benn as “contending material” when discussing his favorite fighters in the sport today.
“You got so many good fighters, name any division, David Benavidez. You got Tank [Gervonta Davis], you got Shakur Stevenson, you got Keyshawn Davis, he’s a great fighter. There’s so many great fighters on the up.
“Even this young guy trying to show something, Conor Benn. People say he’s a bum, but he’s contending material believe it or not. I know he talks a lot of smack, gets some people nervous, but he’s contending material. He’s not afraid to show his face.”
Benn is expected to challenge Ryan Garcia for the WBC welterweight world title in his next fight. A win would silence his doubters and push him further toward superstardom.
