Via Scott Gilfoid: Conor Benn and Eddie Hearn are not interested in setting up a fight against dangerous EBU heavyweight champion David Avanesyan, preferring instead to host a bout with the 34-year-old Chris van Heerden inactive on the day April 16.
Both Hearn and Benn (20-0, 13 KOs) justify choosing van Heerden over Avanesyan (28-3-1, 16 KOs), saying the South African shared the ring with the ranked candidate 147 lb high Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis in his final battle, though TWO years ago in 2020.
What Benn and Hearn didn’t say was that Van Heerden (28-2-1, 12 KOs) looked like he was going to have to face off against then-22-year-old ‘Boots’ Ennis, who received a terrible penalty in the first round of the game. contest before it happens. was stopped due to a cut Chris received from a head clash.
Below is a video of the Ennis vs. Van Heerden for any boxing fan looking to get a glimpse of how terrible this mismatch really was two years ago in 2020.
Given that van Heerden hasn’t been in combat since and is now 34 years old, Gilfoid can’t imagine that he’s magically improved.
The way Hearn & Benn have worked to justify their choice of van Heerden over Avanesyan, shows that they are avoiding the talented Russian.
A lot of boxing fans have seen Conor Benn’s entire career was just a hustle in which he is deliberately compared to old men who can no longer fight just to make some easy words behind the name of his famous father Nigel Benn.
In contrast, former two-division world champion Nigel has not faced a cannon-level opponent during the same period of his career when he was Conor’s age. When Nigel was 25 years old, he fought these killers:
- Iran Barkley
- Chris Eubank
- Doug Dewitt
- Michael Watson
- Robbie Sims
Hearn & Benn are NOT interested in Avaneysan
Conor Benn: “Let’s see who he’s fighting,” Conor said to iFL TV when asked about the possibility of fighting David Avanesyan.
Eddie Hearn: “Look who he is [Avanesyan] the fight. David Avanesyan is fighting some geezer called ‘Metz’ [Oskari Metz]someone I’ve never heard of in my life.
“The previous war, he [Avanesyan] fought with Liam Taylor. No disrespect to Liam Taylor. He turned down our Abel Ramos in the knockout for the world title in Los Angeles to take on Liam Taylor,” Hearn said of Avanesyan.
“He is currently fighting Metz. So when he started fighting in his recent run, people liked [Chris] Van Heerden, people like Algieri, people like Granados, talk to us.
“He is [Avanesysan] a great thing, I’ve said it before, but it doesn’t always work out that way. ”
Ben: “They try and paint a picture. “Oh, we’re scared of Avanesyan and this and that,” but no, look who he’s fighting. Look, I’m not going to support him either. I say that because I don’t need him.
“I can fight anyone else. My career doesn’t depend on him, but you can see it’s a money game from his point of view. Who else is he calling? Is he fighting and ready to call on someone else? ”
To listen: “Honestly, I’ve done it before when I used someone’s name publicly [name-dropping/clout chasing]. Yeah, I pissed those people off to the point where it really drove them crazy.
“Actually there are quite a few, but it’s been a long time. But he [Benn] look at it now see this guy [Avanesyan] tease him all the time. ‘Oh, he’s scared,’ and it makes you say, ‘Okay, man. You fight Metz in front of 400 people.’”
Ben: “Carl Grieves and Nick, and whoever he is [Avanesyan] group already, you continue. You do whatever you have to do because you say I’m scared of this or that. I really, though?
“When you look at who I am fighting for the world title. If you have the last type of person on the table and he [Avanesyan] Turn it down to either Liam Taylor or Metz, all right, man. Drag the other one. ”
To listen: “Imagine if he [Conor Benn] fought Metz, just for a second, yes. We announce a new fight on April 16 at Manchester Arena with Conor Benn headed against Metz.
“I hope Metz doesn’t watch because he won’t be happy with me. Can you imagine in that show Avanesyan in that show? If I put on such a program, I would be completely wiped out. And if he [Benn] fight such a guy, he will be completely wiped out.
“But you know what? That’s what happens when you’re at the top because everyone wants to try and knock you down. Bad news for you, we are there. “
“Benn: “Put down the microphone.”
Van Heerden has accepted to fight Benn for April
To listen: “As I said the other day, Chris van Heerden has accepted an offer that we discussed [for him to fight Conor Benn]. We haven’t finalized a deal on our part yet, but we’re ready to join that fight.
“Maurice Hooker accepted the fight. We did it with Golden Boy. He called a week later and said he had injured his back on the second day of practice. He is our first choice. So I think most likely next will be Van Heerden.
Ben: “Of course I am [happy with the choice of Van Heerden]. Any top American or any top fighter. Apparently he just fought Jaron Ennis [in 2020], so if people want to do that comparison. Well, that’s fine. ”
To listen: “Yes [ then 22-year-old Ennis] fought Van Heerden in his 26th fight, and it was Chris van Heerden’s last fight [two years ago in 2020].
“So obviously he was out with COVID and he had some family issues as well. He’s a good fighter, and he [Van Heerden] a Southpaw and he’s extremely tough. A tough, tough man.
“The fight with Jaron Ennis was only one round because it ended on the cut line. I mean him [Ennis] clearly won the war. I’m sorry, it was just a round.
“I saw someone interviewed yesterday where there was a bit of criticism about Chris van Heerden.
“His last fight was against Jaron Ennis on Showtime [two years ago in 2020]. So he’s not okay with Conor Benn? They have to think that Conor Benn is a lot better than Jaron Ennis.”
Ben: “This or that. That’s me really terrible.
To listen: “But if you’re bad, you lose to Chris Van Heerden.”
Ben: “Either Algieri or Vargas or Formella.”
Eddie RAVES on Van Heerden
To listen: “But no respect for Algieri, but Van Heerden is different. He’s bigger, I think he’s tougher and more resilient.
“I appreciate you very much. Van Heerden was a tough fight and last time Jaron Ennis was fine [two years ago in 2020] on Showtime during his 26th fight.
“But when Conor Benn walked in with him, it was ‘Oh, that’s Chris Van Heerden. [Sebastian] Formella, [Samuel] Vargas, Algieri, Van Heerden. ”
Ben: “It’s crazy because they’re good enough for Shawn Porter to fight, they’re good enough for Amir Khan to fight or Vergil Ortiz or they’re good enough for all the others to fight. But when I fought them, ‘Oh, he’s gone.’ That’s just madness. Why don’t they give me the credit I deserve? ”
To listen: “When he [Benn] Boxed Formella, Formella’s match before Shawn Porter caught the eye on PBC, and it went on for 12 rounds. When he [Conor] stepped up against Formella, “Oh, he just lost to Shawn Porter, didn’t he?” Obviously yes.
“I always say we are two or three wars behind Jaron Ennis and Vergil Ortiz. That is my opinion. Not about ability, just about progress. ”
Ben: “About progression, yes. Every battle, I level up every time. I showed different qualities and different attributes that I had inside of me. So I’m always working and always improving.
“So why have these fights when I’m not needed when I’m progressing my way? So I’m always learning and always growing with every match, I’m going to learn and improve. I will demonstrate something different.
“So I’m ready for now, but it depends on Eddie. I will have wars now. If he presents [Yordenis] Ugas fight me for my next match, I will fight any day of the week. “
