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'I still favor Conor' - Tony Bellew Expressed His Support to Conor Benn for Conor vs Eubank Jr.
Former cruiserweight world champion Tony Bellew is expressing his support for welterweight contender Conor Benn in a potential bout against middleweight Chris Eubank Jr. Bellew believes that Benn's physical attributes could give him the edge in this matchup. In a recent fight in Manchester, Chris Eubank Jr., aged 33, showcased his dominance by stopping former world champion Liam Smith in the tenth round. This victory has reignited the interest in a potential showdown between Eubank and Benn. Back in October 2022, Eubank and Benn were slated to face off, but the fight was canceled during fight week due to Benn testing positive for a banned substance. However, there is a possibility of rescheduling this bout for December.
Tony Bellew is of the opinion that Benn's speed and explosiveness could prove decisive against Eubank. He acknowledges that Benn's condition and performance in the ring after a year of inactivity would need to be assessed before making a definitive prediction. "Too quick, too explosive, I just think he beats him. I don't know how it'll go, I just need to see Conor back first to see what the year's took out of him, but I still favor Conor. Explosive, powerful, quick- Conor Benn's one of them, you're going to have to put him to sleep. He's going out on his shield,"However, before a potential Eubank matchup, Conor Benn must resolve legal issues with the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC) and UK Anti-Doping (UKAD). Benn has been out of action since his knockout victory over Chris Van Heerden in April. While the National Anti-Doping Panel cleared him to box earlier this year, both BBBofC and UKAD have appealed this decision. Promoter Eddie Hearn of Matchroom expects the matter to be resolved in the coming months. On the other hand, Eubank is exploring various options for his next fight, including a potential showdown against former middleweight world champion Gennadiy 'GGG' Golovkin.
