Here are highlights from Conor Benn’s impressive victory over Sebastian Formella on Saturday in London.
Conor Benn made a strong statement against Sebastian Formella on Saturday night in London.
Benn, the son of retired champion Nigel Benn, outboxed him game, but overmatched opponent to beat Formella as convincingly as former welterweight titleholder Shawn Porter did.
The scores were 100-91, 99-91 and 99-92, all for Benn. Boxing Junkie had it 99-91. Porter shut out Formella in a 12-round fight.
It was arguably the finest performance of Benn’s career, which put the top 147-pounders on notice that a threat to them could make its way over from the U.K. one day soon.
Here are highlights of the fight, courtesy of DAZN,
Here are highlights from Conor Benn’s impressive victory over Sebastian Formella on Saturday in London.
Conor Benn made a strong statement against Sebastian Formella on Saturday night in London.
Benn, the son of retired champion Nigel Benn, outboxed him game, but overmatched opponent to beat Formella as convincingly as former welterweight titleholder Shawn Porter did.
The scores were 100-91, 99-91 and 99-92, all for Benn. Boxing Junkie had it 99-91. Porter shut out Formella in a 12-round fight.
It was arguably the finest performance of Benn’s career, which put the top 147-pounders on notice that a threat to them could make its way over from the U.K. one day soon.
Here are highlights of the fight, courtesy of DAZN,
Conor Benn outclassed Sebastian Formella en route to winning a wide decision Saturday in London.
Conor Benn took a significant step in his young career on Saturday night in London.
Benn outclassed Sebastian Formella to win a wide decision in a 10-round welterweight fight, arguably the strongest performance since he turned pro in 2016.
Formella, who went the distance with Shawn Porter on Aug. 22, was seen as the biggest test for the son of Nigel Benn. If so, he gets an “A”.
Benn (17-0, 11 KOs) had too much of everything for his German opponent at SSE Arena. He picked Fromella (22-2, 10 KOs) apart when they fought at an arm’s length – landing the much quicker, harder shots – and got the better of his opponent when they fought toe-to-toe.
Formella was just as resilient against Benn as he was when he fought Porter but, in both fights, solid technique and toughness weren’t enough for him to be competitive.
Conor Benn arguably gave the strongest performance of his career on Saturday. Mark Robinson / Matchroom Boxing
The loser, realizing after a few rounds that he was ineffective at a distance, demonstrated his courage but pushing the action and engaging Benn inside beginning in the middle rounds. However, he continued to take punishment until the final bell.
Benn’s only flaw was his inability to stop a fighter he dominated but that’s more a testament to Formella’s remarkable toughness than any deficiency on Benn’s part.
The scores were 100-91, 99-91 and 99-92, all for Benn. Porter shut out Formella in a 12-round fight.
Benn made a strong statement, demonstrating that the top 147-pounders might have their hands full with the 24-year-old Essex resident sometime in the near future.
“I’m getting better every time,” said Benn, who hadn’t fought since he stopped Steve Jamoye in October of last year. “I’m working hard. There is no fun and games. This is all business. …
“I just beat a former [secondary] world champion who went the distance with Shawn Porter. And I beat him just as good.”
Benn isn’t getting carried away after only 17 professional bouts and a limited amateur career. He has his eye on regional rivals for now, not the elite 147-pounders like Errol Spence Jr., Terence Crawford and Manny Pacquiao.
“There’s only one fight I’m interested in, and that’s Josh Kelly,” he said of his fellow British prospect. Forget all the other people calling me out. I don’t care. The only big domestic [opponent] I want is Kelly.”
Promoter Eddie Hearn, standing beside Benn when he was interviewed after the fight, said a Benn-Kelly fight could happen.
Kelly is expected to fight David Avanesyan in January. If Kelly wins that fight and Benn wins once more, Hearn said, Kelly and Benn could meet sometime in the summer.
“That’s a blockbuster for the summer,” Hearn said. “I know [Kelly trainer] Adam Booth would have no problem taking that fight.”
Benn looked wide-eyed at Hearn after he made that comment and asked, “Are you sure?” Hearn responded, “I believe so.”
Conor Benn outclassed Sebastian Formella en route to winning a wide decision Saturday in London.
Conor Benn took a significant step in his young career on Saturday night in London.
Benn outclassed Sebastian Formella to win a wide decision in a 10-round welterweight fight, arguably the strongest performance since he turned pro in 2016.
Formella, who went the distance with Shawn Porter on Aug. 22, was seen as the biggest test for the son of Nigel Benn. If so, he gets an “A”.
Benn (17-0, 11 KOs) had too much of everything for his German opponent at SSE Arena. He picked Fromella (22-2, 10 KOs) apart when they fought at an arm’s length – landing the much quicker, harder shots – and got the better of his opponent when they fought toe-to-toe.
Formella was just as resilient against Benn as he was when he fought Porter but, in both fights, solid technique and toughness weren’t enough for him to be competitive.
Conor Benn arguably gave the strongest performance of his career on Saturday. Mark Robinson / Matchroom Boxing
The loser, realizing after a few rounds that he was ineffective at a distance, demonstrated his courage but pushing the action and engaging Benn inside beginning in the middle rounds. However, he continued to take punishment until the final bell.
Benn’s only flaw was his inability to stop a fighter he dominated but that’s more a testament to Formella’s remarkable toughness than any deficiency on Benn’s part.
The scores were 100-91, 99-91 and 99-92, all for Benn. Porter shut out Formella in a 12-round fight.
Benn made a strong statement, demonstrating that the top 147-pounders might have their hands full with the 24-year-old Essex resident sometime in the near future.
“I’m getting better every time,” said Benn, who hadn’t fought since he stopped Steve Jamoye in October of last year. “I’m working hard. There is no fun and games. This is all business. …
“I just beat a former [secondary] world champion who went the distance with Shawn Porter. And I beat him just as good.”
Benn isn’t getting carried away after only 17 professional bouts and a limited amateur career. He has his eye on regional rivals for now, not the elite 147-pounders like Errol Spence Jr., Terence Crawford and Manny Pacquiao.
“There’s only one fight I’m interested in, and that’s Josh Kelly,” he said of his fellow British prospect. Forget all the other people calling me out. I don’t care. The only big domestic [opponent] I want is Kelly.”
Promoter Eddie Hearn, standing beside Benn when he was interviewed after the fight, said a Benn-Kelly fight could happen.
Kelly is expected to fight David Avanesyan in January. If Kelly wins that fight and Benn wins once more, Hearn said, Kelly and Benn could meet sometime in the summer.
“That’s a blockbuster for the summer,” Hearn said. “I know [Kelly trainer] Adam Booth would have no problem taking that fight.”
Benn looked wide-eyed at Hearn after he made that comment and asked, “Are you sure?” Hearn responded, “I believe so.”
Shawn Porter outclassed Sebastian Formella to win a shutout decision Saturday in Los Angeles.
A fighter is in trouble when he or she can’t do a single thing better than the opponent. That’s the position Sebastian Formella was in against Shawn Porter on Saturday at Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. And the result was predictable.
Porter outclassed the German in almost every conceivable way, winning the 12-round welterweight title eliminator by a shutout decision.
The former two-time 147-pounder couldn’t seriously hurt the durable Formella and was unable to stop him, which was a moral victory for the loser. Otherwise, Porter couldn’t have won much more convincingly.
“He was tough,” Porter said. “I think after about six rounds, by dad said, ‘OK, he’s taking these punches and he’s going to keep taking them.’ So keep the pressure on him and keep dogging him.”
Porter (31-3-1, 17 KOs) took a few minutes to feel out Formella (22-1, 10 KOs) after the opening bell but, by the second round, he was dogging his prey on full throttle. He suffocated Formella with a wide array of quick, accurate punches that made it difficult for the visitor to get anything done.
The outcome seemed settled only three or four rounds into the fight, making the remainder of the fight a formality. The only question was whether Porter could get the knockout.
To his credit, Formella, well aware of his predicament but determined, never shifted into survive mode. He’s a pretty good, elusive boxer – with a good chin — who made Porter work for the victory and never stopped trying to land punches.
The problem for Formella was that he had neither the power to deter Porter nor the ability to offset the winner’s attack in any significant way.
The CompuBox stats provide an idea of Porter’s dominance. He landed a career-high 304 of 785 punches (39%) overall, compared to 148 of 586 (25%) for Formella. And 216 of the shots Porter landed were power punches, compared to only 70 for Formella.
Hence the shutout on the cards.
With the victory, Porter, who lost his title to Errol Spence Jr. in a classic brawl last September, remains in position to get another shot at one of the three beltholders – Spence, Manny Pacquiao and Terence Crawford – or at least face a top-tier 147-pounder.
Porter was asked after the fight Saturday to look into a camera and send his rivals a message. He held up a mouthpiece that read, “And still,” which normally would signify a successful title defense. He was making a different statement.
“And still!” he said. “I’m still here, baby. I’m not going anywhere.”
In a preliminary bout, middleweight prospect Joey Spencer (11-0, 8 KOs) stopped Shawn West (5-2, 3 KOs) at 1:21 of Round 4 of a scheduled six-round bout. Spencer put West down once in the second round and again in the fourth.
Shawn Porter outclassed Sebastian Formella to win a shutout decision Saturday in Los Angeles.
A fighter is in trouble when he or she can’t do a single thing better than the opponent. That’s the position Sebastian Formella was in against Shawn Porter on Saturday at Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. And the result was predictable.
Porter outclassed the German in almost every conceivable way, winning the 12-round welterweight title eliminator by a shutout decision.
The former two-time 147-pounder couldn’t seriously hurt the durable Formella and was unable to stop him, which was a moral victory for the loser. Otherwise, Porter couldn’t have won much more convincingly.
“He was tough,” Porter said. “I think after about six rounds, by dad said, ‘OK, he’s taking these punches and he’s going to keep taking them.’ So keep the pressure on him and keep dogging him.”
Porter (31-3-1, 17 KOs) took a few minutes to feel out Formella (22-1, 10 KOs) after the opening bell but, by the second round, he was dogging his prey on full throttle. He suffocated Formella with a wide array of quick, accurate punches that made it difficult for the visitor to get anything done.
The outcome seemed settled only three or four rounds into the fight, making the remainder of the fight a formality. The only question was whether Porter could get the knockout.
To his credit, Formella, well aware of his predicament but determined, never shifted into survive mode. He’s a pretty good, elusive boxer – with a good chin — who made Porter work for the victory and never stopped trying to land punches.
The problem for Formella was that he had neither the power to deter Porter nor the ability to offset the winner’s attack in any significant way.
The CompuBox stats provide an idea of Porter’s dominance. He landed a career-high 304 of 785 punches (39%) overall, compared to 148 of 586 (25%) for Formella. And 216 of the shots Porter landed were power punches, compared to only 70 for Formella.
Hence the shutout on the cards.
With the victory, Porter, who lost his title to Errol Spence Jr. in a classic brawl last September, remains in position to get another shot at one of the three beltholders – Spence, Manny Pacquiao and Terence Crawford – or at least face a top-tier 147-pounder.
Porter was asked after the fight Saturday to look into a camera and send his rivals a message. He held up a mouthpiece that read, “And still,” which normally would signify a successful title defense. He was making a different statement.
“And still!” he said. “I’m still here, baby. I’m not going anywhere.”
In a preliminary bout, middleweight prospect Joey Spencer (11-0, 8 KOs) stopped Shawn West (5-2, 3 KOs) at 1:21 of Round 4 of a scheduled six-round bout. Spencer put West down once in the second round and again in the fourth.
Sebastian Fundora stopped Nathaniel Gallimore in Round 6 on the Shawn Porter-Sebastian Formella card Saturday in Los Angeles.
Sebastian Fundora passed the biggest test of his career.
The 6-foot-6 junior middleweight delivered a brutal beating of veteran Nathaniel Gallimore for five-plus rounds before the referee stepped in to save him from further punishment on the Shawn Porter-Sebastian Formella card Saturday in Los Angeles.
The official time of the stoppage was 1:28 of Round 6.
Some thought Gallimore (21-5-1, 17 KOs) might be too experienced and powerful for the long, lean 22-year-old prospect. In the end, Fundora (15-0-1, 10 KOs) had his way with Gallimore.
Fundora generally doesn’s use his height. He goes after his opponents as if he were 5-6, not 6-6. And it works for him. Against Gallimore, he landed whipping punch after whipping punch to break him down and took little in return beginning in the third round.
No one except Gallimore complained when the fight was stopped.
Fundora probably is at least a few fights away from a shot at a major title but he made a strong statement. Gallimore also has losses against Julian Williams, Patrick Teixeira and Erickson Lubin but Fundora became the first to stop him.
Gallimore left the ring on a gurney but perhaps not because of the beating. He apparently injured an ankle at some point during the onslaught.
Sebastian Fundora stopped Nathaniel Gallimore in Round 6 on the Shawn Porter-Sebastian Formella card Saturday in Los Angeles.
Sebastian Fundora passed the biggest test of his career.
The 6-foot-6 junior middleweight delivered a brutal beating of veteran Nathaniel Gallimore for five-plus rounds before the referee stepped in to save him from further punishment on the Shawn Porter-Sebastian Formella card Saturday in Los Angeles.
The official time of the stoppage was 1:28 of Round 6.
Some thought Gallimore (21-5-1, 17 KOs) might be too experienced and powerful for the long, lean 22-year-old prospect. In the end, Fundora (15-0-1, 10 KOs) had his way with Gallimore.
Fundora generally doesn’s use his height. He goes after his opponents as if he were 5-6, not 6-6. And it works for him. Against Gallimore, he landed whipping punch after whipping punch to break him down and took little in return beginning in the third round.
No one except Gallimore complained when the fight was stopped.
Fundora probably is at least a few fights away from a shot at a major title but he made a strong statement. Gallimore also has losses against Julian Williams, Patrick Teixeira and Erickson Lubin but Fundora became the first to stop him.
Gallimore left the ring on a gurney but perhaps not because of the beating. He apparently injured an ankle at some point during the onslaught.
Shawn Porter and Sebastian Formella on Friday made weight for their welterweight fight Saturday at Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.
Shawn Porter and Sebastian Formella on Friday made weight for their welterweight fight behind closed doors Saturday at Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. The card will be televised on Fox.
Porter weighed 146.6 pounds, .4 under the limit. Formella weighed 146.
Porter started his career fighting mostly as a middleweight but dropped down to welterweight in 2010 and has fought primarily at that weight since. Coincidently, Formella also started as a 160-pounder and moved down two years ago.
Porter (30-3-1, 17 KOs) is coming off a riveting split-decision loss in September to Errol Spence Jr., who became a unified 147-pound champion.
Formella (22-0, 10 KOs) last fought in January, when he outpointed Roberto Arriaza in his native Germany.
Shawn Porter looks ripped for his welterweight fight against Sebastian Formella on Saturday night. Sean Michael Ham / TGB Promotions
Here are the weights of the other fighters on the card:
Sebastian Fundora (14-0-1, 9 KOs) 153.2 pounds vs. Nathaniel Gallimore (21-4-1, 17 KOs) 152.6, 10 rounds, junior middleweights.
Shawn Porter and Sebastian Formella on Friday made weight for their welterweight fight Saturday at Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.
Shawn Porter and Sebastian Formella on Friday made weight for their welterweight fight behind closed doors Saturday at Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. The card will be televised on Fox.
Porter weighed 146.6 pounds, .4 under the limit. Formella weighed 146.
Porter started his career fighting mostly as a middleweight but dropped down to welterweight in 2010 and has fought primarily at that weight since. Coincidently, Formella also started as a 160-pounder and moved down two years ago.
Porter (30-3-1, 17 KOs) is coming off a riveting split-decision loss in September to Errol Spence Jr., who became a unified 147-pound champion.
Formella (22-0, 10 KOs) last fought in January, when he outpointed Roberto Arriaza in his native Germany.
Shawn Porter looks ripped for his welterweight fight against Sebastian Formella on Saturday night. Sean Michael Ham / TGB Promotions
Here are the weights of the other fighters on the card:
Sebastian Fundora (14-0-1, 9 KOs) 153.2 pounds vs. Nathaniel Gallimore (21-4-1, 17 KOs) 152.6, 10 rounds, junior middleweights.
