Welterweight contender Conor ‘The Destroyer’ Benn 18-0 (12) lived up to his nickname with a first-round demolition of battle-hardened Samuel Vargas 31-7-2 (14) at the Copper Box Arena at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London on Saturday night.
The 24-year-old from Essex simply overwhelmed Vargas, who was on the receiving end of a two-fisted assault that forced referee Michael Alexander to step in and wave off the contest at the 1:20 mark when the 31-year-year-old Canadian-based Colombian was pinned to the ropes and not throwing back.
Benn, who was coming off a decision win over Germany’s Sebastian Formella in November, now has his sights set on former two-weight world champion Amir Khan, who had to pull himself up off the canvas in the second round to defeat Vargas on points in 2018.
“Statement made,” Benn said after the fight. “All those names you just mentioned, no-one banged him out in one round. Easy.
“Formella, easy. Give me a proper test, give me Amir Khan.
“I know he’s too busy on reality shows and all that, but listen, if he wants it, he can get it.
“I can deal with the pressure, I can cope with it because I’m built for it.
“All this hype, not a problem, you know what they say about diamonds?
“I’m ready for the top dogs.”
Asked why he jumped on Vargas so early, Benn had a simple reply.
“He was there to be hit, so I hit him,” he said.
“I ain’t gonna be shy, I ain’t gonna hold back. If I see an opening, I told you lot, I’m gonna take it. And I damn well took it.
“Give me Khan next. You ain’t seen nothing yet. I know he’s too busy on reality TV. If he wants it, he can have it.
“I can deal with pressure. I can cope with it. I can live with it, no problem.
“I’m ready for the top dogs – Shawn Porter, Adrien Broner?
“I’m the most rapidly improved fighters globally.
“I’m the best welterweight in the country without fail, nobody does numbers like me.”
Benn’s famous father Nigel Benn – a two-weight world champion in his own right – predicted an early end to the bout.
“A couple of rounds, four rounds. If Conor puts the pressure on like he did to [his previous opponent] Sebastian Formella, it will catch up [with Vargas],” Benn Sr said to Fox Sports Australia.
“Absolutely I believe he can stop him. He has the tools, the heart and the power.
“I said before to him: ‘If you can’t beat Formella, why are you in the game?’
“I said: ‘You should be walking through him’.
“This is what I feel Conor can do.
“Conor has the power and the speed. He’s learning, he only had 20 amateur fights and now he’s working his way through the ranks. Every fight is a learning fight.”
Promoter Eddie Hearn is down for the Khan fight, but also said a bout against Josh Kelly conqueror David Avanesyan could be another possibility.
“The next fight has to be a top 15 in the world,” the Matchroom Boxing boss said.
“Benn vs Khan – a young guy against a guy with a fantastic legacy.
“I want Benn back out as soon as possible. I’d like to see him win the European title.
“How can you not get excited?”
