Conor Benn returns this upcoming Saturday against the unbeaten Peter Dobson The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan, Las Vegas, as the unbeaten welterweight continues his return to the sport following his clearnece to resume his career due to anti-doping issues.
Benn returns in the United States, not being deterred from boxing overseas due to the ongoing appeal process by the British Boxing Board of Control and UKAD regarding his clearence by the National Anti-Doping panel in July of 2023.
Promoter Eddie Hearn opened the proceedings of the final press confererence, with the bill including four British fighters set to feature on the Vegas strip.
Eddie Hearn
“There’s no place like Las Vegas, and what an opportunity for so many fighters on this card on Saturday night. Conor Benn headlines against Peter Dobson; it was 34 years ago that his father Nigel Benn fought Iran Barkley on the strip, and this is the first time in the history of Matchroom that we have promoted a main event with a Brit headlining in Las Vegas. We’re excited to be broadcasting this fight at 10.30pm UK time for the main event, an early start here in the US with the first fight underway at 11am PT at the fantastic Chelsea venue inside the Cosmopolitan Las Vegas.
“There are so many great opportunities for these young fighters to make their name here in Las Vegas on Saturday night. Young Brits Johnny Fisher, George Liddard and Jimmy Sains get an incredible opportunity to fight in Vegas early in their careers, while there’s four undefeated fighters going at it, two World ranked talents in Austin Williams and Khalil Coe in massive tests for their careers.”
Conor Benn – fights Peter Dobson over 12 rounds at Welterweight
“He fights because he has no choice, I fight because I love to fight, that’s the difference. If he was in my shoes, he wouldn’t be a fighter. I choose to do this; I live and breathe this. So, keep that energy, he’s been trolling for months, keep shaking. You will find out what green is on Saturday. I promise you.
“I’m coming out there and I’m going to come straight to him. Meet him in the middle. We’ll have a shoot-out, no problem, the more I talk the more he shakes. I’m coming for the knockout. This luxury kid that lives a privileged life, I’m coming out there to wipe you out, I swear on my life. I’m going in to take your head off your shoulders. He’s mad delusional, I like his confidence, the loudest one if the weakest one in the room.
“I’ve proven everything I’ve ever said. I’m going in there to absolutely destroy him, period. No nerves, just pure excitement. This is what I do, this isn’t talk, not trying to talk my way into a big fight, my record speaks for itself. Every time I’ve stepped up, I’ve proven myself and done what I set out to do, every single time. I plan on doing the same on Saturday, he’s talking a lot, other fighters have said I’m green, not ready, living off your dad’s name – but when I get in there, I prove them wrong. So I will do what I do and that’s get the knockout in absolutely devastating fashion. As soon as that bell goes, I’m launching a heavy right hand straight at his head, followed by a nasty left hook, and I might finish him off with another one-two if he’s not gone already.
“I prepare for every fight like they are my World title, because they are, and I am to them. I always prepare diligently, I live the life, that’s the difference, I stay dedicated, I apply myself, I go above and beyond, every inch of the game I am. Him not living the life, you’ll see on Saturday.”
Peter Dobson – fights Conor Benn over 12 rounds at Welterweight
“I’m ready to go and I’ve been ready to go. When I first met you (Eddie) I told you that I’m one of the best fighters in the world and you need to give me an opportunity. Everyone you have sent my way, I have said yes to, and here we are, two more days and I get to show you that everything I was saying was the truth. He’s so green, he thinks he’s going to take me out in the first round, that’s dumb. That’s what green fighters do. No-one he’s fought is better than me. They’re more known than me, but they’re not better than me. I’ve been overlooked my whole career, why do you think the last two Matchroom guys didn’t want to fight me? Because they did their homework. These guys obviously didn’t do their homework and he’s going to see. You will see why I can’t get fights, why promoters constantly tell me ‘This guy doesn’t want to fight you’. Do your homework. It’s been a long time coming, I’m an old land mine that’s been waiting to blow up for a long damn time.
“I feel like this is perfect alignment for me. It’s God’s plan. I’m supposed to be here on this stage, now I get to show the world that I should have been here a long time ago. I’m a dog, I came up the hard way in boxing. Conor’s father was a world champion, a millionaire, so he paved the way with his legacy and gave him the route that I want to give my son, the easy route where you don’t have to struggle. I couldn’t get fights, even with Matchroom I couldn’t. I came out of the mud; we’ve had different paths but when get in the ring it’s just me and him and we’ll see which path makes the better fighter.
“If he comes out hard in the first round, he’s going to get knocked out in the first round. I don’t think you have seen me fight because of what you’ve said, I’m a dog, I’m from the Bronx. This is my life, I’m in the gym every day with no fight date, I put my life into this, I sacrifice so much, and he’s going to feel my pain and everything I’ve been through.”
Austin Williams – defends his WBA International Middleweight title against Armel Mbumba-Yassa over ten rounds
“I take this extremely seriously. He has a chance to skip the line, he’s been pro just as long as me, he’s got 10 fights, I’ve got 15, I’ve fought in real fights. At this point it’s not about emotion, it’s not about stars aligning or my opportunity or chance; it’s really mathematical. I have experiences in the ring that you can’t replace you can only go through it. The confidence I have from the experiences I went through in the ring, I’m just ready to show that there’s different levels to boxing. On Saturday we have the chance to show that you have a young, undefeated big puncher, but you’ll see the difference with the things we’ve done in the sport.
“There’s a ferocity to me that’s been honed, it’s animalistic, like a tiger after r they go to battle, to war so many times, they have to hunt and survive, then something switches where everyday I wake up and ready to fight. He’ll be energetic and coming hard at me, but I’ll just shut a lot of things down. People forget that I have been in the gym and training with some current greats like David Benavidez, Callum Smith, Christian Mbilli, so I am just ready to show levels, you’ll see the momentum shift and his demeanor change after the first 30 to 45 seconds of the fight, when he realizes what he’s in for on Saturday.”
Armel Mbumba-Yassa – challenges Austin Williams for his WBA International Middleweight title over ten rounds
“This is a life-changing chance for me, and I took it immediately. I’m ready, I was already training so it was perfect, on Saturday a new star is born. After this fight, everyone will say ‘wow’. I know Austin, I know he’s a very dangerous fighter. I fear nobody, I respect him, but I am afraid of nothing, he can come with all the emotions, but I am ready.”
Johnny Fisher – faces Dmytro Bezus over eight rounds at Heavyweight
“I’m very grateful to be on a show like this in Las Vegas. We spoke about fighting in America from the first few fights in my career that we wanted to fight over here, but the dream means nothing if I don’t put in a performance on Saturday. I’ve got a lot of respect for Bezus, I know he’s coming to win, but I sensed fear in him and I’m going to prey on that when I get in there.
“I’ve been over here four or five times before, I’m used to being in Vegas, I’ve been here for five weeks, and I was ready to fight when I got here. I came here early to acclimatize and sharpen my skills, I’ve been sparring with Michael Hunter and a lot of Cuban fighters, so it’s been a great experience and it’s only going to add to my game as I put it all on the line on Saturday.
“When you fight in England people pay for their fight ticket and get on the train, but this time they are paying for flights and hotels on top of that, and it’s a lot of money. We’re very grateful to all the Essex fans coming over and it’s up to all of us to put on a show.”
Dmytro Bezus – faces Johnny Fisher over eight rounds at Heavyweight
“Thank you very much for the invitation to fight. Months ago, I could only dream about a fight in Las Vegas and now it’s a reality. Johnny is very strong, it’s a good experience and good fight. I always come to win, with my last fight against David Adeleye, as they say, shit happens, it’s time to come back and go again.”
Khalil Coe – takes on Gerardo Osuna over eight rounds at Light-Heavyweight
“Shit gets real. I’m going to prove who I am. I have a lot to show you, this guy is 20-0 – soon to be 20-1 – it’s inevitable. My preparation is so much better; from meal prep to the miles we run, to the communication, conversations with coach, the understanding that he has my back and I put the work in, and we are getting the results that we have been looking for. I’m looking forward to this, I’m expecting him to bring everything, I’ve been training for it. I’ve seen guys like this before, it’s nothing I cannot handle. I’ve been training with some of the roughest and toughest guys, that’s prepared me for this fight, so I am ready.”
Gerardo Osuna – takes on Khalil Coe over eight rounds at Light-Heavyweight
“I’m very grateful to Eddie Hearn and Matchroom for the opportunity. I want to raise the Mexican flag in this fight and honor my country and show what I am about. I’m very excited and proud of this moment and I am going to show what Mexican fighters can do.”
George Liddard – takes on Andrew Buchanan over six rounds at Middleweight
“This whole camp I’ve been preparing for another undefeated fighter on Saturday. It’s been great in America, sparring guys that are preparing for a World title in March, I’m just ready and excited, looking forward to doing the business and going to 6-0 on Saturday. Every time I go in there, I’m 100 per cent prepared. He’s undefeated so he is going to go in there to prove a point, it’s a big opportunity for him so he won't want to lose. So, I will have to dig deep and work hard, and you’ll see a very good George Liddard and an explosive and vicious performance.”
Jimmy Sains – takes on Alejandro Avalos over four rounds at Middleweight
“I’ve been pinching myself a lot about fighting here, it’s just mental being here, it still hasn’t sunk in. I’ve had a great four weeks in LA and it’s mad that I’m now here in Las Vegas, and I am grateful for the opportunity. The first two fights I’ve had have just been bodies really as opponents there to make up the numbers, but on Saturday I’ve got a live opponent, and I am going to show the best Jimmy Sains. I’m in the best shape I’ve been in as a pro, and you will see the best of me on Saturday. The sparring I’ve had and the gyms I’ve been in over here, not many people can say that they’ve had that, so I feel very lucky, and I can’t wait for Saturday.”
