CONOR BENN made a HUGE statement with a first-round triumph over Samuel Vargas.
And after the fight Benn called out Amir Khan for a battle of Britain.
Follow ALL the action with our live blog below…
REPORT
BIG DADDY Conor Benn blitzed respected welterweight hard man Samuel Vargas inside 80 blistering seconds and called out Amir Khan.
The new father had baby Eli’s name etched on his shorts for the first time since his January birth and made quick work of the veteran to rush home to his new family.
Father Nigel spoke before the fight about how the 24-year-old’s jab has continued to improve rapidly and he showed it again with a succession of arrow-like lead hands.
But the Colombian was stunned by an early right hand and Benn unloaded almost a dozen accurate and brutal punches before the referee jumped in.
Somehow Vargas did not hit the deck but he was utterly shell shocked by The Destroyer who had barely worked up a sweat and still had the breath to call for a mouthwatering all-English clash.
“Statement made,” the new Benneration roared. “Nobody has banged him out in one round. Give me a proper test.
“Give me Amir Khan, or is he too busy on reality shows now.
“I just proved I can deal with hype and pressure and pressure creates diamonds.
“I am ready for the top dogs, I want them, I want to test myself.
“I was expecting a hard 12-round fight tonight but I am the most rapidly improving fighter in the world, not just Great Britain.
“I was hitting him and it felt good, he was there to hit so I let my hands go.
“I did not get hit with a single thing in there, if it had gone longer I would have shown you even more and I am not even in my prime yet.”
The tattooed ace went to 18-0 with a faultless performance against a veteran who had only previously been stopped by the absolute elites of the division.
Khan had to climb off the floor to beat Vargas back in 2018 but Benn battered that effort in rapid time.
And 34-year-old Bolton hero was then the target of Benn’s remaining adrenaline as he ordered their shared promoter Eddie Hearn to get on the phone.
RICE RICE BABY
West Ham star Declan Rice was in awe of Conor Benn’s sensational KO against Samuel Vargas.
He tweeted: “Omg Conor Benn…. that is ridiculous!!!!”
CONOR BENN vs SAMUEL VARGAS
Here is Conor Benn’s stunning knockout win over Samuel Vargas in round one.
Benn said: “I am ready for the top dogs, I want them, I want to test myself.
“I was expecting a hard 12-round fight tonight but I am the most rapidly improving fighter in the world, not just Great Britain.
“I was hitting him and it felt good, he was there to hit so I let my hands go.
“I did not get hit with a single thing in there, if it had gone longer I would have shown you even more and I am not even in my prime yet.”
CONOR BENN vs SAMUEL VARGAS
Conor Benn has taken a swipe at Amir Khan’s recent BBC documentary and called out the ex-world champion.
Benn, 24, said: “Statement made, no-one bangs him out in one round. Easy. Formella, easy.
“Give me a proper test, give me Amir Khan. I know he’s too busy on reality shows and all that, but listen, if he wants it, he can get it.”
CONOR BENN vs SAMUEL VARGAS
Conor Benn, now 18-0, calls out Amir Khan, Shawn Porter and Adrien Broner.
This was a sensational statement, Errol Spence took Samuel Vargas out in four rounds.
Benn by far Britain’s most improved fighter and potentially the next star.
CONOR BENN vs SAMUEL VARGAS
Round 1 – Conor Benn came out the blocks fast and produces a massive statement as he knocks Samuel Vargas out in round one.
He had Vargas hurt with some stinging right hands early but closed the show on the ropes.
What a devastating finish.
CONOR BENN vs SAMUEL VARGAS
Round 1 – IT’S ALL OVER!
Conor Benn has closed the show in devastating fashion.
He hurt Samuel Vargas with some stinging right hands and finished the job on the topes.
CONOR BENN vs SAMUEL VARGAS
Both fighters have made their ring walks and the first bell is upon us.
This fight will tell us a lot about Conor Benn, with Samuel Vargas an experienced campaigner.
Even Amir Khan could not get the welterweight veteran out of there.
CONOR BENN vs SAMUEL VARGAS
Final preparations being put in for Conor Benn and Samuel Vargas.
SHIELD OF HONOUR
Savannah Marshall has dared Claressa Shields to finally fight her again.
She said: “I punch too hard for Claressa Shields.
“I do, I punch far too hard and she doesn’t wanna know.
“She’d much rather roll about in the octagon, rather call out Katie Taylor when she’s four weight classes below her, she doesn’t wanna know.”
UP NEXT
Conor Benn headlines against Samuel Vargas – his biggest career step up.
Benn, 17-0, has already called out Amir Khan and Kell Brook but all of that will count for nothing unless he gets past the test of Vargas.
SAVANNAH MARSHALL vs MARIA LINDBERG
Round 3 – All over in round three as Marshall scores another knockdown and this time Lindberg stays down.
Very comfortable for the champion but worth remembering Lindberg only got the call to fight this week.
We all know the big fight for Marshall is Claressa Shields – who she beat in the amateurs.
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SAVANNAH MARSHALL vs MARIA LINDBERG
Round 2 – Big round for Marshall as she scored a knockdown with a perfect right hand.
Lindberg only just beat the count and has not been in the fight at all.
Marshall stayed composed, but had she stepped on it the fight could have been over.
SAVANNAH MARSHALL vs MARIA LINDBERG
Round 1 – Confident start from Marshall, who is boxing comfortably behind her jab.
She almost has a very Fury-like style, sitting on the back foot boxing and moving.
Lindberg did not offer much in terms of a threat, though.
UP NEXT – SAVANNAH MARSHALL vs MARIA LINDBERG
SHANNON COURTENAY vs EBANIE BRIDGES
Shannon Courtenay is Britain’s latest world champion as she triumphed on points over Ebanie Bridges.
Courtenay cried: “I can’t put it into words, me and my whole team have worked so hard.
“I boxed getter and had the cuter shots, she was trying to knock me out and I just had to stop trading.
“My jab popped her eye and that was where and when I boxed best.”
SHANNON COURTENAY vs EBANIE BRIDGES
We got to the judges scorecards and they read, 97-94, 98-92 (x2) to the winner… Shannon Courtenay!
Her crisper punching and accuracy has won her the WBA bantamweight title.
Excellent fight, both deserve massive amounts of credit. Britain has a new world champion.
SHANNON COURTENAY vs EBANIE BRIDGES
Round 10 – Both women fight till the end and cap off an excellent fight.
Very close. Bridges the more aggressive but Courtenay landed the more eye-catching of shots.
It will come down the what the judges like, but that’s another great advert for women’s boxing.
SHANNON COURTENAY vs EBANIE BRIDGES
Round 9 – Big round for Courtenay who had Bridges rocked with a couple of big right hands over the top.
Again, Bridges was smart to cover up but looked wobbled.
Final round coming up and Bridges is battling a severely swollen eye but makes it into the last sessions.
SHANNON COURTENAY vs EBANIE BRIDGES
Round 8 – Another really tight round.
Bridges coming forward and looking the aggressor but Courtenay is finding the target on the counter.
All to play for in the final two rounds.
SHANNON COURTENAY vs EBANIE BRIDGES
Round 7 – Massively exciting round as Bridges had Courtenay rocked with a couple shots over the top.
But Courtenay came back with her own combinations after withstanding the onslaught.
Still, Bridges landed the cleaner shots and had Courtenay in trouble. Big last three rounds here.
SHANNON COURTENAY vs EBANIE BRIDGES
Round 6 – Courtenay boxed the whole round almost on the back foot as Bridges showed relentless pressure.
Courtenay did land a few flash hooks but Bridges looked in the ascendancy that round.
It could come down to who has the better engine down the stretch.
SHANNON COURTENAY vs EBANIE BRIDGES
Round 5 – Massive trade off and Courtenay catches Bridges as she comes in as the pair are broken up in the corner.
Bridges hurt towards the end of the round as Courtenay lands one through the guard.
Credit to the Aussie who stayed composed and saw out the round but half way in and Courtenay with the best shot of the fight.
SHANNON COURTENAY vs EBANIE BRIDGES
Round 4 – Bridges lands a big one-two down the middle but it has sparked aggression from Courtenay.
Bridges looking confident coming forward now but Courtenay happy to try counter.
Really tight fight as we head into round five.
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
