Former world super lightweight champion Amir Khan says Conor Benn is taking a “massive step-up” against Samuel Vargas this week.
The (17-0, 11 KOs) welterweight faces Samuel Vargas (31-6-2, 14 KOs) on Saturday night at Wembley Arena live on Sky Sports. Benn, son of former two-weight world champion Nigel, has developed into a respectable contender on the 147lbs scene and will look to go one better than Khan did against Vargas back in 2018. That night saw Khan and Vargas share three knockdowns between them in the first three rounds before the Brit got the nod on points over 12 rounds.
This weekend’s 10-round contest will give an indication of where Benn’s world title credentials lie.
“I think it’s a massive step-up for Conor Benn. I think Conor will have his hands full in that fight,” Khan told Sky Sports.
“Since obviously after he fought me, he has been in one or two difficult fights, Samuel Vargas, and he’s been beat after I beat him. But I still think he’s a dangerous operator.”
Last July Vargas went seven rounds with Golden Boy Promotions star Vergil Ortiz Jr. Ortiz was too fresh and too aggressive for the Colombian and continued onslaughts forced referee Jack Reiss to bring matters to a halt in the final seconds of the seventh.
Four months later Benn comfortably out-pointed former Shawn Porter opponent Sebastian Formella.
“Samuel has that power, has decent skills, which can cause any fighter problems,” said Khan.
Khan is backing his compatriot to prevail against Vargas provided he has been following some basic fundamentals.
“As long as you believe in yourself, you work hard, you train hard. You have to stay focused throughout the whole fight, because this is boxing, one punch can change a fight.”