Conor Benn remains highly motivated to secure a second fight against Chris Eubank Jr, with September 27 being suggested as a possible date for the rematch.
Benn was defeated by Eubank Jr in an exciting 12-round bout held at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium towards the end of last month.
Eddie Hearn, Benn`s promoter, stated, “I know September 27, back at Spurs, is a date that he [Saudi financier Turki Alalshikh] has put forward and proposed. We are ready, really. We signed the contract for two fights.”
“Conor is just desperate to run it back. He feels like he is going to improve a lot going into that fight. It was his first fight in 14 or 15 months, at 160lbs.”
Hearn added, “Look, they provided us with just a night we will never forget in so many ways. And both fighters deserve so much credit. We would love to run it back.”
Aside from a potential middleweight rematch with Eubank, Benn also has the option of returning to the welterweight division. However, the 46-year-old Manny Pacquiao, who had retired, appears poised for a surprising return and could potentially challenge WBC champion Mario Barrios before Benn gets a chance.
Benn`s promoter, Hearn, strongly criticized Pacquiao`s plan to come out of retirement and immediately fight for a world title.
Hearn described it as “absolute madness. If you are ever talking about something to suit a belt, this is it. How can you let a guy who hasn`t boxed for five years do that?”
He commented, “You have seen him in a couple of exhibitions a couple of years ago look far past his best.”
He further explained, “Probably about three years ago they approached us about a Conor Benn fight. I mentioned it, Conor Benn had never really fought an elite world title operator, and I said we had been approached about a Manny Pacquiao fight for Conor Benn – I got absolutely ridiculed.”
“So now fast forward another three years, you have just put this guy in the rankings out of nowhere and now he is going to fight for a world title. Dare I say it, it is like exhibition stuff but for real world championships. For me it makes no sense.”
Nevertheless, if Pacquiao were to actually defeat Barrios and claim the WBC title, Benn`s team might revisit those potential negotiations.
Hearn cautioned, “It would be very dangerous for Manny Pacquiao to go anywhere near him [Benn]. If he all of a sudden came back and had a win against a world-class opponent, does that change things? Maybe.”
“But one, he is not going to beat Mario Barrios and two, he shouldn`t even be in the ring. This is a dangerous game and when you reach that age, especially against someone who is as young and dangerous and fresh as Conor Benn, it is just a bad idea.”
“The guy has got more money than you could imagine. Just go and enjoy yourself.”
Murray Blackwood