Undefeated welterweight Florian ‘The Albanian King’ Marku 8-0-1 (6) has criticised Conor ‘The Destroyer’ Benn 17-0 (11) as a boxer who “chooses only bad opponents” because he “can’t take a hit to the head”.
Benn, 24, will take on seasoned campaigned Samuel Vargas 31-6-2 (14) at Copper Box Arena at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London on Saturday night in what has been touted as a step-up fight.
Marku doesn’t believe it is.
“I knew he would not fight me in his next two or three fights because he chooses bad opponents with bad records,” the 28-year-old southpaw who was born in Albania but resides in London told Sky Sports.
“Sebastian Formella had a good record but he was not a strong puncher. Vargas is not a good opponent. He has lost to all the good names and has never won against anyone with a good record.
“He has beaten journeymen to build his record. Conor will win. Conor would never choose anyone without losses. [My last two] opponents had unbeaten records.
“It’s easy to choose someone who has tasted losses many times because they don’t give their heart to this game.”
In his most recent outing, Marku defeated previously unbeaten Rylan Charlton 6-1-1 (3) by eighth-round stoppage in their 10-round contest at London’s Wembley Arena on February 20.
He called out Benn after the fight, who was watching on from ringside.
“Rylan Charlton would give big, big problems to Conor because you saw what Cedrick Peynaud did to him,” Marku said. “This is a fact.”
Marku sees Benn’s first fight with Peynaud more than three years ago – when he was knocked down twice in the opening round before going on to win the six-rounder on points – as proof that the son of the legendary Nigel Benn has a week set of whiskers.
Benn won their 10-round rematch on points seven months later.
“Conor has a glass chin,” said Marku. “Since Peynaud, they haven’t chosen anyone who can hit. From that day, they chose carefully because Conor can’t take a hit to the head.
“When I hit Conor clean? He and his team know I hit hard because they have heard about my sparring. All of my opponents were guys that can hit. They all hit hard. Conor chooses only bad opponents.
“We have good names in the UK – Chris Jenkins, Chris Kongo, Michael McKinson – who were calling him out but he never put his name on the line because he is scared.
“Why did he choose Formella from Germany? He had zero power. Vargas? Because he knows he is 90 percent likely to win. They choose opponents carefully.”
Benn has previously laughed off Marku’s needling.
“I beat undefeated kids – I’ve been there, seen it, done it,” Benn said at the time of Marku’s last fight.
“I can’t blame him. Coward? Don’t be silly. You’ve got to take it with a pinch of salt. You’ve got to laugh at it.”
