Friday 13 November 2020 10:23, UK
Nigel Benn is convinced his son Conor will become a better boxer and go on to "surpass" his own achievements.
The former middleweight and super-middleweight world champion admits the 21-year-old has already learned more than he did in a rollercoaster career that saw him inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Benn is now based in Sydney, Australia, but is in regular contact with his son and has watched him make an impact on the United Kingdom and now America, since turning professional just over 19 months ago.
I know he will do more than I did. I am just glad my son is going to be better than me, in boxing or life in general
The 'Dark Destroyer' is naturally proud of Conor's unbeaten start but more importantly, is already certain he will go on to be a bigger success in and out of the ring.
"If I am honest, I think he is going to be a much better boxer than me," Nigel Benn exclusively told Sky Sports from Australia.
"He has the right attitude to surpass me and do you know what? I would be so happy if he did - and it's not about me.
"I've had a great career; they've put me in the Hall of Fame, and the WBC voted me the best super-middleweight with Joe Calzaghe, yet all I wanted was Southern Area champion. Maybe a shot at the British title.
"But when I look at Conor, I don't see it like that, because I know he will do more than I did. I am just glad my son is going to be better than me, in boxing or life in general."
Nigel Benn admits there are obvious similarities between himself and Conor in the ring, but is delighted to see his son is taking on - and still learning - a different approach.
Benn knocked out all 22 of his first 22 opponents and while his son racked up his fifth straight stoppage against Brandon Sanudo, he is delighted to see the youngster adopt a different approach in the ring.
Kell Brook believes Benn will be the star of British boxing in years to come...
"The difference between me and Conor is if I look at Conor now, he's learning and I never learnt anything," Nigel said.
"I am not joking either. I never had any peace in my career, absolutely none. My life was crazy and Conor's is nothing like that.
"No one ever really taught me anything. I am not being disrespectful to my trainers but they just wanted me to go out there and 'get em Nige'. I've actually learnt more now that I did throughout my career, even when I was a world champion. I was 'Crash! Bang! Wallop', nothing like Conor.
"I tell him 'you are never like me, Con'. The way he talks, the way he is. He knows who he is and he has an old head on young shoulders. He really has."
Benn feels his own 'crash, bang, wallop' style actually came out in his son in his second fight in May 2016, in Glasgow, when he was taken the four-round distance by Luke Keleher.
The 53-year-old witnessed his son "close to tears" of frustration in the dressing room, but with Conor then sustaining a serious jaw injury that kept him out of the ring for eight months, the new, mature mindset emerged.
The 21-year-old underlined that with the second-round stoppage of Sanudo, his first Mexican opponent, with the body shot leaving his dad in awe.
"Dad's verdict was I didn't like Conor following him around in the first round and he should have shut the right [hand] off," said Benn.
"But that was a big experience for him and I loved his attitude and when he landed that body shot, it was a proper body shot. It would've put anybody down.
"Even I look at my son and think 'wow, how relaxed is he now?' From the time he hurt his jaw to now, when he had eight months off, he has just progressed.
"He is taking his time but when he gets someone in trouble he is on them. I respect my son for what he's done. That body shot was right on the money. I was so proud of that."
