Tag: Benn vs Algieri

That’s what you call making a statement.

Conor Benn, facing one of his biggest tests, stopped veteran Chris Algieri with two seconds remaining in Round 4 of a scheduled 12-round welterweight bout Saturday in Liverpool, England.

Only Errol Spence Jr. had been able to knock out the former 140-pound champ before Benn turned the trick.

Benn (20-0, 13 KOs) had dominated the bout before the knockout, fighting behind his jab to land power punches to both the head and body and taking little in return.

Algieri (25-4, 9 KOs) landed a few punches but spent most of his time covering up and doing his best to move out of harm’s way.

Then, with Algieri’s back against the ropes, Benn countered a weak jab from the American with a left and then a right hand that found Algieri’s chin and sent him tumbling to the canvas.

There was no reason for referee Bob Williams to count; Algieri was out.

Benn celebrated immediately after the fight was waved off but assumed a more somber posture when he realized that Algieri remained on his back a minute or two after the stoppage.

Finally, when Algieri regained his senses and got up, Benn could enjoy his victory in earnest.

“I didn’t expect nothing else,” Benn said. “I work extremely hard and I knew the knockout was coming. I said the same thing about [Samuel] Vargas. I knew the knockout was coming.

“… I hope the Yanks know that I’m the best fighter in Britain, No. 1. And, No. 2, I’m coming for them.”

That said, neither Benn nor his promoter Eddie Hearn seem to be in a hurry because of his limited experience. He had only a reported 20 amateur fights.

Benn mentioned the intriguing possibility of facing the winner of the Feb. 19 Kell Brook-Amir Khan fight or 147-pound gatekeeper Adrian Broner.

And Hearn, interviewed as he stood beside Benn after the fight, didn’t bring up any names but he clearly wants to avoid the likes of titleholders Spence and Terence Crawford for the time being as Benn continues to develop.

“The job is to position him for a world title fight in the most difficult and dangerous division in boxing,” Hearn said. “147 pounds. There are no easy belts, there are no easy fights at the top.

“It’s about preparing him and making sure he’s perfectly ready … to swim with the sharks.”

Benn has one supporter close to him who believes the sky is the limit.

“This is the fight that Conor made his own path,” said Nigel Benn, his father and former world champion. “He’s not in my shadow no more. … Unbelievable, unbelievable. He’s going all the way.”

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