Benn’s 147 comeback looks like a shortcut to a soft belt

Conor Benn (24-1, 14 KOs) confirmed last Saturday night that he intends to drop back down to 147 pounds in an attempt to claim a world title after defeating Chris Eubank Jr. (35-4, 25 KOs) defeated by a 12-round unanimous decision at their ‘Family Feud’ Stadium in London Tottenham match in England, England.

Returning to 147 after three years away is a risky move by Benn, as he last fought in the division on April 16, 2022, knocking out journeyman Chris van Heerden in the second round. It was Benn’s only fight of the year in that weight class.

Four years away from real welterweight work

The last time he fought twice a year at welterweight was in 2021. So, essentially, Benn hasn’t campaigned at 147 in four years.

Why it’s risky for Benn to return to 147:

• Health risks due to weight loss: Dropping from 170+ pounds to 147 will be hard for Benn to do at 29 without being drained and much weaker than he was in his win last night.
• Prolonged absence: After three years away from the 147-lb division, returning to the division is going to be a tough readjustment for Benn. He faced exclusively second-tier opposition when he campaigned at welterweight from 2016 to 2022. If Conor chooses to fight the creme de la creme fighter at 147, Brian Norman Jr., this could be his Dunkirk. This will be a lesson in the dangers of returning to a weight class for which your body is no longer suited.
• Stiff competition: If Benn intends to challenge top welterweight champion Norman Jr. fighting instead of paper champions Barrios and Rolly, it could be too much for him due to the combination of his limited pedigree and the massive 40-lb weight cut.
• Recovery issues: Conor could find himself in the same exhausted, zombie-like state in which Eubank Jr. last night was, and draining from 170+ to fight at welterweight. Again, if Benn chooses to fight the quality welterweights instead of the weak belt holders, he could be asking for trouble. It depends on whether his focus is on a cheap, superficial goal of winning an easy belt or doing something meaningful that requires courage, like fighting Norman Jr. to fight So far, Benn’s career has been more superficial, fighting less opposition and picking pockets full of dough from his famous surname. It’s pathetic, but if money rather than real performance is Benn’s career goal, he’ll take the lesser route by targeting Barrios next.

Barrios and Rolly: The Soft Targets

The two titleholders Benn mentioned wanting to fight at welterweight, Mario Barrios (WBC) and Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero (WBA), are considered by fans to be two of the worst the division has seen in decades.

They see those two as textbook examples of paper champions, and a clear sign of the decline of the 147-lb division, which shows fighters with scant talent or being maneuvered by promoters to capture belts. It’s interesting that, of all the champions, Conor Benn starts at welterweight; it would be Barrios and Rolly.

Somehow it fits with what Conor’s career has been so far. Benn did not follow in his famous father Nigel Benn’s footsteps by fighting the best. He took a different route, against low-level fighters and a career underachiever, Eubank Jr.

Despite the glowing comments from fans after Benn’s victory over a muscle-wasting, frazzled 36-year-old Eubank Jr., Conor looked beaten to the face. In terms of facial damage, 29-year-old Benn looked like the loser.

The scores were 119-107, 116-110 and 118-108, all for Benn. He has Eubank Jr. dropped twice in the 12th round, both coming from punches to the back of the head. In other words, hurry up. The umpire said nothing, so Benn’s strikeout was credited.

“Money always talks, but how much money do you need? Let me get that world title and it will tick a box,” said a reported and watched Conor Benn after the post-fight press conference last Saturday night, which for the first time set up a trilogy match with Chris Eubank Jr. shut out after beating him by a 12-round unanimous decision.