Tony Bellew has looked ahead to a potential second attempt in making Chris Eubank Jr versus Conor Benn.
The first ill-fated bout between the two Brits – who have inherited a rivalry fought between their fathers in the nineties – was halted with just days to go due to news of Benn failing a drug test.
Eubank Jr went on to lose to Liam Smith, a result he recently avenged in an arguably career-best performance. Benn hasn’t stepped through the ropes in that time, with his fight being very much with the anti-doping authorities.
Now, his promotional team are confident enough of securing a British license to restart the talks with Eubank, and they believe there’s a potential for it to take place this December, albeit at the middleweight limit of 160 and not a catchweight of 157 as before.
Speaking on Froch on Fighting, Bellew backed Benn despite being the smaller and more inactive fighter.
“Too quick, too explosive. I just think he beats him. I don’t know how it’ll go. I just need to see Conor back first to see what the year’s took out of him, but I still favour Conor. Explosive, powerful, quick – Conor Benn’s one of them, you’re gonna have to put him to sleep. He’s going out on his shield.”
Benn has been touted for a comeback in America as early as this month to prepare for a bigger showdown towards the end of the year, however nothing yet official has been announced.
As for Eubank, he’s unlikely to enter into a trilogy with Smith despite the result being 1-1. Instead, the 33-year-old has been clear that his focus is on the biggest fights possible. Given the press surrounding it, Benn falls into that category.