The Rise of Conor Benn: A Look at the UK’s Welterweight Sensation
In boxing, specific names have earned the legacy of being part of the sport’s history beyond their career as a competitor. The name ‘Benn’ has certainly achieved that. Conor Benn continues to live on the family legacy following in his father’s footsteps, Nigel Benn, who became a super middleweight champion in the 90s.
Who is Conor Benn?
British professional boxer Conor Benn, is also known as “The Destroyer,”, he was born in Greenwich, London, UK on the 28th September 1996. On 9th April 2016, Benn made his professional boxing debut at only 19 years old. Even with his already impressive boxing career, he still hasn’t got the world title yet.
Benn currently competes in the welterweight division and he is the son of former world champion Nigel Benn and has been boxing since he was a teenager. He has had an impressive career, with a perfect record of 23 wins in 24 fights.
Fighter Stats
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Conor Nigel Benn |
| Nickname | The Destroyer |
| Nationality | British |
| Age | 28 (born 28 Sept 1996) |
| Height | 5 ft 8 in (173 cm) |
| Reach | 68 in (173 cm) |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Division | Welterweight / Super Welterweight |
| Professional Record | 23 wins (14 KOs), 1 loss |
Who is Nigel Benn?
The Black Destroyer, Nigel Benn, is a former British professional boxer and the father of Conor Benn. He was born in Ilford, London, England on the 22nd january 1964. On 28th January 1987, Benn made his professional boxing debut at 23 years old.
Nigel Benn had 48 fights over nine years and nine months, winning 42, losing 5, and drawing 1. Benn’s boxing record at the time of his final professional contest on 9th November 1996 was 42-5-1. (35 KO wins, 4 KO losses).
What Makes Conor Benn Stand out in the Boxing Scene?
Ultimately, as much as he is a talented boxer, it’s his father’s career and era of boxing that has helped shed light on Conor’s career. Nigel Benn was remarkable for his time, winning 42 of his 48 professional bouts.
Benn was part of a historic bout when he fought Gerald McClellan in 1995 in one of the most brutal and intense fights ever. The fight only ended in tragedy as McClellan suffered extensive brain damage after both fighters gave it their all for 12 rounds.
World in Sport suggests: “McClellan was rushed to the hospital as was Benn, who had also collapsed in his dressing room, due to exhaustion. McClellan underwent brain surgery by Dr John Sutcliffe, who removed a blood clot.
Benn was released from the hospital the following day; however, McClellan spent two weeks in a coma and only left the hospital in August 1995. His career is over. As a result of the fight, McClellan is blind, hearing-impaired, suffers short-term memory loss, and needs to use a wheelchair.”
Unsurprisingly, this fight has gone down in history as one of the greatest boxing matches ever.
Nigel Benn vs Chris Eubank Sr
To this day, Nigel Benn and Chris Eubank Sr names are always associated due to the rivalry and strong hate for one another.
When set to fight, the pair could barely look at each other in interviews. Nigel Benn fought Chris Eubank on two occasions, with Benn losing the first fight and the second resulting in a draw.
Conor Benn vs Chris Eubank jr
Today, the rivarly between Benn and Eubank has followed the bloodline and Conor Benn and Chris Eubank Jr share the same hate as their fathers, which follows the two clashes between their dads in the 1990’s.
Conor Benn vs Chris Eubank jr had their first fight on the 26th April 2025 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
The fight was a 12-round middleweight contest that lived up to the hype: aggressive, hard-hit, and emotional. Eubank Jr. emerged victorious by unanimous decision, with all three judges scoring the bout 116-112 in his favour.
It marked the first professional loss for Benn (23-1), and was a gritty display from both fighters, with Benn starting strong and Eubank Jr. taking over in the later rounds. The win improved Eubank Jr.’s record (to 35-3), while Benn, stepping up two weight divisions, was left to rue missed opportunities and fight tactics that didn’t pay off.
They have both agreed on a rematch and the fight is scheduled for Saturday, November 15, 2025.
Conor Benn’s Career Highlights and Milestones to Date
Conor Benn has carved out his own name in British boxing, stepping out of the shadow of his legendary father Nigel Benn. Known for his aggressive style and knockout power, Benn has fought 24 times as a professional, with a record of 23 wins (14 KOs) and 1 defeat as of September 2025.
Benn’s Rise in the Ranks
Benn burst onto the scene with exciting performances early in his career, quickly climbing into the top 10 of the welterweight rankings. He captured the WBA Continental Welterweight title on 28th July 2018, defeating Cedrick Peynaud. His charisma and fighting style have helped him become one of the UK’s most marketable young stars, building a fanbase of hundreds of thousands on social media.
Outside of boxing, Benn also appeared in the Rise of the Footsoldier film series, playing his father, further cementing his status as a crossover name in British pop culture.
Top Career Wins
- Conor Benn vs Samuel Vargas – On 10th April 2021, Benn produced arguably his career-best performance, stopping Colombian veteran Samuel Vargas in the very first round.
- Conor Benn vs Chris Algieri – On 11th December 2021, Benn knocked out former WBO champion Chris Algieri in the fourth round, underlining his potential at the elite level.
- Conor Benn vs Sebastian Formella – On 21st November 2020, Benn defeated Formella by unanimous decision over ten rounds, showing his ability to go the distance against tough opposition.
- Conor Benn vs Chris Truman – On 21st April 2018, Benn scored a fourth-round TKO victory, extending his unbeaten streak to 12-0 at the time.
- Conor Benn vs Nathan Clarke – On 7th October 2017, Benn secured a first-round knockout to move to 9-0 in his career.
Benn’s Popularity and Fanbase
Like any second-generation fighter, Benn attracted attention early, but he has proved he can stand on his own merits. His high-pressure style has made him a fan favourite, and his Instagram following now exceeds 650,000. With every fight, his appeal continues to grow, even after setbacks outside the ring.
Conor Benn and Kell Brook’s Twitter Spat
Back in 2023, Benn exchanged heated words with retired former champion Kell Brook on Twitter. At the time, there were rumours of a potential fight, but Brook chose to remain retired after his win over Amir Khan. The rivalry never materialized, but the war of words added more spice to Benn’s growing reputation.
Final Round
Conor Benn remains one of Britain’s most exciting fighters and continues to chase world title opportunities. With his past controversy behind him and his reputation being rebuilt, Benn is moving forward with determination. Now, all eyes are on his upcoming rematch, where he will look to bounce back stronger and prove he belongs among the very best in boxing.
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