Promoter Eddie Hearn said his more immediate goal for Conor Benn is to fight for a world title than face Shakur Stevenson.
Benn entered the ring after Stevenson’s commanding victory over Teofimo Lopez and they talked up a future fight.
But at the press conference afterwards in Madison Square Garden, Hearn said: “Conor Benn will fight anybody. I think what Shakur proved tonight is he is just a generational talent. He made an elite fighter look very, very average tonight and to be a four-division champion at 28 years of age is unbelievable and the way that he’s doing it, he’s not even coming out of first gear.
“Conor Benn would have a massive challenge on his hands, but he’s up for anything. I wanna see Conor Benn win a world title. He [Benn] also faced off with Rolly Romero tonight, which is a great fight for the welterweight division. Conor Benn will fight anybody. I have no fear of that.”
Benn has talked about fighting Rolly Romero and Ryan Garcia, should he overcome Mario Barrios next month, but Stevenson was quickly to call out the Englishman, on the condition that Benn agreed to a rehydration clause.
That was a nod to the terms Chris Eubank agreed to face Benn with twice last year.
Asked how a possible fight between Stevenson, now top dog at 140lbs, and Benn – who last boxed at 160lbs – might go, Hearn replied: “Moving up, I think that’s the only way Shakur’s going to get beat. On a level playing field, it’s very difficult for Shakur to get beaten by anybody, because a level playing field probably for him is 135. I actually thought he looked quite powerful at 140. I actually thought he could have stopped Teofimo Lopez if he’d maybe put his foot on the gas. He didn’t need to. But I thought his punches looked solid in there. I thought it looked like he had the heavier hands of the two. Conor Benn can crack at 147 and he’s a big 147, what he might be lacking in world level in experience he’s making up in size.
“It's a tough, tough fight. Conor has the size advantage, he can really punch and I think he’s live against anyone. Shakur has great experience. I would like to see Conor Benn fight for a world title at 147 and I think Conor’s going to get better and better.”
Stevenson’s manager Josh Dubin was asked about the same fight, and he said: “If the money is right, the rehydration clause tells you all you need to know. He [Benn]’s just in there bullshitting and trying to get a headline on his [Shakur’s] big night. I thought the whole thing was the kind of clown nonsense that Teofimo did all week.”
