Nigel Benn's son Conor signs professional contract

By Jefferson Lake

Wednesday 30 March 2016 14:38, UK

Nigel Benn's son Conor has signed a deal with Matchroom and will make his professional debut on the undercard of Anthony Joshua's world title clash with Charles Martin next month.

Benn, 19, will fight on the bill at The O2 in London on April 9, an event live on Sky Sports Box Office, as he begins creating a legacy in his own right at super-lightweight under the guidance of trainer Tony Sims.

Benn says his goal is to outdo his father's incredible achievements as a two-weight world champion in the 1990s and he accepts the association will be there until he has made a name for himself in his own right.

"I'm Conor Benn, but I'll always be known as Nigel's son," he said.

"Until I get inducted into the Hall of Fame, until I win world titles at three weights - not two, because that's what my dad did and I need to do more - until I've become the youngest world champion or won more belts, I'll always be Nigel Benn's son, and achieving more will be very hard.

"I've been boxing for about three years now, I didn't know that fighting was made for me but I do now. I think I've progressed really quickly. People say it's because of my surname - it's because of that and that I can fight like my last name.

"My dad didn't really want me to fight, he thought that I would give it a try and have it as a hobby, but it escalated really quickly.

"He said there were a million other things to do, why do you need to fight? But I have no choice but to fight because it's in me, it's what I want to do, I want to be the best."

Benn Sr won world titles at middleweight and super-middleweight in a glittering career that saw the 'Dark Destroyer' pack stadiums and arenas and thrill huge TV audiences with his all-action style and brutal power.

The 52-year-old will be in London next week for a press conference and will attend Conor's debut, but says he will allow Conor to forge his own path in the game under the guidance of Eddie Hearn and trainer Sims.

"I'm really excited for Conor, he's incredibly talented," he said. "If I look at myself at 19 next to Conor, there's no comparison, he's so much better than I was.

"He has all the fighting instincts in him and he's got so much ability. He's going to be special and he's going to go on and be better than me, I really believe that. He's got the heart of a fighter."

Charles Martin vs Anthony Joshua, live on Sky Sports Box Office on April 9, is available to order via online.