After redeeming himself with a grudge match win over Chris Eubank Jr, Conor Benn introduced his intention to return to welterweight and chase world titles, identify dropping the likes of Ryan Garcia, Rolly Romero, Devin Haney and Mario Barrios as fights he desires subsequent.
However there was one identify manifestly absent from his record of potential opponents, that being IBF Welterweight Champion Lewis Crocker.
Benn’s refusal to say ‘The Croc’ instantly fuelled hypothesis that he’s avoiding the newly topped champion, showing to be wanting all over the place besides Belfast for his subsequent battle, regardless of Crocker holding a title that Benn claims to be pursuing.
Jamie Conlan has been one of many loudest voices calling for the battle since Crocker defeated Paddy Donovan in Windsor Park earlier this yr. Reacting to Benn’s stateside centric callouts on-line, Conlan mentioned “Benn desires a World Title, this man (Lewis Crocker) welcomes the problem! Let’s go Matchroom Boxing we’re prepared!”
Crocker shared an identical sentiment to his fellow Belfast-man instantly after Benn’s put up battle interview, taking to social media to precise his frustration at being ignored by a fighter claiming to pursue world titles.
The newly topped champion didn’t conceal his annoyance, posting “How was my identify not even talked about put up battle… I’m one in all solely two UK world champions within the for the time being, and at that I’m the one welterweight champion… Barrios being introduced up, and as a fellow Matchroom Boxing fighter I’m not even being spoke about? Lets do that.”
Conlan has persistently framed Belfast as the best location for the showdown, stressing that the battle belongs to Belfast, and that Crocker is greater than able to defend the belt at residence.
Talking to Irish-Boxing.com after Crocker’s win over Donovan, he revealed they had been already exploring dates and venues, saying they had been concentrating on “an enormous spring, summer season showdown outside in Belfast, or Conor Benn again in Windsor Park.”
Past venues, Conlan hasn’t shied away from naming Benn because the battle on the very high of Crocker’s wishlist.
“Conor Benn being the primary one which Lewis desires, they’re the massive huge mega-fights he’s in search of,” he mentioned.
Benn’s complete dispatchment of Eubank Jr solely strengthened Conlan’s perception that the battle is sensible subsequent.
Earlier than the battle, he admitted he hoped Benn would come by means of cleanly to arrange a world title showdown, he instructed Irish-Boxing.com that in a great world “Benn wins, Benn seems good, Benn comes by means of, if he’s prepared for the early a part of subsequent yr, it’s potential.”
Whereas Crocker nonetheless has different avenues to discover, together with curiosity in a unification bout with WBC World Champion Mario Barrios, each Conlan and Crocker insist the Benn battle is the battle that makes essentially the most sense proper now.
From Staff Crocker’s perspective the pathway couldn’t be clearer, if Benn desires a world title, he should undergo the champ, however till Benn acknowledges the Belfast man, the notion of Benn looking titles or American paydays will solely develop stronger.
