Stevie McKenna insists he would be too big and strong for ‘wee’ Conor Benn should their paths cross in the future.
The County Monaghan puncher is one of Ireland’s rising boxing stars, having reeled off eight stoppages in as many fights while catching the eye on Hennessy Sports’ promotions on Channel 5.
A fight with the heavy-handed and charismatic Benn (18-0, 12 KOs) could be a tantalising prospect down the line if both men continue to win. Since moving up to 147lbs, the 6ft 1ins McKenna believes his enhanced power and added dimensions will prove a devastating combination.
“I’m building into a big strong 147, I’m 6ft 1ins, I’ll fill into a massive 147. I was big for 140 so coming up for 147 I feel a lot stronger and working on my power punching. It’s going to be exciting at 147, there’s a lot of names out there that I’d be after. As you know Conor Benn’s one of them, I’d love to get him into the ring, if he’ll get into the ring with me. I don’t think he’d want it,” McKenna told Ali Drew on Hennessy Sports’ YouTube channel.
“He knows I’m too big too and strong for him. I’d have no problem taking Conor Benn out of there. I’d fight him in the morning. Conor Benn’s really only a wee, small super-lightweight. He’s not a 147, he’s very small, I’m too strong and big for him.
“The 147 is a strong division at the moment and in the next two years I want to be up there winning a world title and be up there with them names. Hopefully, next year we’ll get big fights and get Conor Benn next summer. It’s a fight that the fans in the UK and Ireland would love to see and it would be a big fight. We need big fights back in Ireland as well and it could happen there and in the UK the fans would love to see it.”