Conor Benn given bizarre new world ranking after Chris Eubank Jr defeat
Conor Benn has entered the IBF super welterweight rankings after his defeat to Chris Eubank Jr last month. The British boxing titans did their fathers proud in a thrilling 12-round war at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Benn’s stock rose in defeat to Eubank JrGetty Benn came up short via unanimous decision, but his gutsy display has been rewarded with a No.5 spot in the IBF rankings at 154lbs. Bakhram Murtazaliev is the current reigning IBF super welterweight champion, while No.1-ranked Erickson Lubin is the Russian’s mandatory. The No.2 spot is currently vacant, Xander Zayas occupies the No.3 position, and Benn is placed between No.4-rated Josh Kelly and No.6-rated Callum Walsh. Despite Benn’s stock rising tenfold in defeat, the IBF’s decision to rank him at super welterweight is a puzzling one. Benn lost to Eubank Jr at middleweight (160lbs) and has stated his intentions to move back down to welterweight (147lbs) after the score has been settled with his bitter rival. “Do I avenge the loss or move back to 147lbs and win a world title?” Benn said at the post-fight press conference. “If [WBC welterweight champion Mario] Barrios is watching, I’d love that. “But I feel like I just want to settle this.” Benn is currently ranked No.3 with the WBC at 147lbs. However, his shot at champion Mario Barrios will have to wait until after the Mexican-American has defended his green and gold strap against Manny Pacquiao. Eubank Jr got his hand raised via unanimous decision in a British classicGetty WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman has given the 46-year-old, who hasn’t boxed professionally since 2021, the green light to fight 29-year-old Barrios in July. Pacquiao also recently received a No.5 ranking from the WBC to clear the final obstacle standing in the way of the fight. As a result, it seems almost certain that Benn and Eubank Jr will rematch next. Terms have already been agreed, while Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh has booked a date in September at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with the second meeting in mind. During a recent appearance on the Diary of a CEO podcast, Eubank Jr insisted that a second fight was ‘very likely’, further affirming the belief that British boxing fans will be treated to the instant classic once again. “Contractually, that is what is on paper,” Eubank Jr said. “It’s very likely that fight will happen again at some point this year. Mikey Williams/Top RankBenn has been ranked No.5 at super welterweight despite his last fight being at middleweight[/caption] “I want what the fans want. If the fans want to see it next, who am I to say no? “The demand for this Conor Benn fight is at an all-time high right now, so I feel like that would be the fight to make next.”
Conor Benn has entered the IBF super welterweight rankings after his defeat to Chris Eubank Jr last month.
The British boxing titans did their fathers proud in a thrilling 12-round war at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Benn came up short via unanimous decision, but his gutsy display has been rewarded with a No.5 spot in the IBF rankings at 154lbs.
Bakhram Murtazaliev is the current reigning IBF super welterweight champion, while No.1-ranked Erickson Lubin is the Russian’s mandatory.
The No.2 spot is currently vacant, Xander Zayas occupies the No.3 position, and Benn is placed between No.4-rated Josh Kelly and No.6-rated Callum Walsh.
Despite Benn’s stock rising tenfold in defeat, the IBF’s decision to rank him at super welterweight is a puzzling one.
Benn lost to Eubank Jr at middleweight (160lbs) and has stated his intentions to move back down to welterweight (147lbs) after the score has been settled with his bitter rival.
“Do I avenge the loss or move back to 147lbs and win a world title?” Benn said at the post-fight press conference.
“If [WBC welterweight champion Mario] Barrios is watching, I’d love that.
“But I feel like I just want to settle this.”
Benn is currently ranked No.3 with the WBC at 147lbs.
However, his shot at champion Mario Barrios will have to wait until after the Mexican-American has defended his green and gold strap against Manny Pacquiao.
WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman has given the 46-year-old, who hasn’t boxed professionally since 2021, the green light to fight 29-year-old Barrios in July.
Pacquiao also recently received a No.5 ranking from the WBC to clear the final obstacle standing in the way of the fight.
As a result, it seems almost certain that Benn and Eubank Jr will rematch next.
Terms have already been agreed, while Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh has booked a date in September at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with the second meeting in mind.
During a recent appearance on the Diary of a CEO podcast, Eubank Jr insisted that a second fight was ‘very likely’, further affirming the belief that British boxing fans will be treated to the instant classic once again.
“Contractually, that is what is on paper,” Eubank Jr said. “It’s very likely that fight will happen again at some point this year.
“I want what the fans want. If the fans want to see it next, who am I to say no?
“The demand for this Conor Benn fight is at an all-time high right now, so I feel like that would be the fight to make next.”
