Nigel Benn is confident that his son Conor Benn will be world champion within a year.
The undefeated welterweight, who holds a record of 16-0 (11), will take on Germany’s Sebastian Formella 22-1 (10) at The SSE Arena in Wembley, London on Saturday night.
The senior Benn, a two-weight world champion who was on this year’s ballot for the International Boxing Hall of Fame, believes many fans and pundits are underestimating his 24-year-old son.
“Just because he was dropped by the Frenchman (Cedrick Peynaud) twice, they feel Conor’s a bit chinny,” said ‘The Dark Destroyer’.
“I got dropped by Anthony Logan, by Michael Watson, I got smacked around by Eubanks 30 years ago. But who got voted into the hall of fame, who got voted as the best middleweight by the WBC along with (Joe) Calzaghe?
“I got put on my backside but I still went in there and achieved it. And I think Conor can do exactly the same.
“By the time he’s 25 he’ll either be world champion or on the right path because that’s when you start getting man strength. He’ll have full man strength by the time he’s 25 and he’ll start banging people out.”
A win over Formella – whose lone loss was to former world champion Shawn Porter on points in August – could lead to an intriguing showdown with domestic rival Josh ‘Pretty Boy’ Kelly 10-0-1 (6).
Benn noted that despite both fighters being young, his son receives far more critique than Kelly.
“When Josh Kelly drew out in New York no one really said anything about that, yet you want to jump on my son — who’s doing really well and only had 20 amateur fights,” he said.
“He has got pedigree. He’s not like that Josh Kelly who has had over 200 amateur fights. Conor’s learning his trade. He’s going all the way.
“If Conor fought like Kelly did I’d say to him ‘Conor, you got to go give the belt to the other guy, he won that fight’.
“I do see Kelly fighting Conor and for his sake sooner than later. He’s got good movement but if you can’t knock people out, that’s it.
“When you fight guys who don’t want to hit back you can do all your flashy stuff, but when you’ve got someone like Conor who can hit back, it’s completely different.
“That will be a big fight and I can’t wait for that.”
Promoter Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing believes Benn has all the hallmarks of a future star.
“He has sparred rounds with Kell Brook which proves he is a world-class welterweight,” Hearn said. “I can’t believe the improvements he has made because I wasn’t sure that he would be good enough. But he is!
“Formella went 12 rounds with Shawn Porter, firing back, taking chances, he has a great chin.”
Hearn is also keen to match Benn with Kelly.
“Kelly will fight David Avanesyan which is an incredible fight,” Hearn explained. “Kelly has the pedigree – he may be a world-class welterweight but he has to prove it.
“This is Benn’s coming out fight. He can be a big star. If he can beat Formella, and do it in style, and if Kelly beats Avanesyan? That is a monstrous fight for 2021.
“Six months ago I would have said Kelly was a huge favorite. But let’s see Benn against Formella. Fight fans may say it’s a 50-50 match-up.
“Both guys have a huge future.
“Benn is a star. He has the benefit of his name and the legacy of his father. He has worked tirelessly to improve.
“But he hasn’t boxed for over a year and he is going into the toughest fight of his career.”
