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“Eddie Hearn knows it’s too dangerous” – Stevie McKenna doubles down on Conor Benn call out

Stevie McKenna [7(7)-0] assures it would be another Irish defeat for the Benn family if he was to be granted his fight Conor Benn [18(12)-0] wish.

The knockout-loving Monaghan welter also suggests Eddie Hearn knows as much and, as a result, isn’t holding his breath with regard to sharing the ring with a fighter Matchroom believe has superstar potential.

McKenna features on the undercard of Sam Eggington and Carlos Molinaā€™s clash for the vacant WBC Silver Middleweight Championship against Poland’s Damian Haus and such is the growing reputation of the fast-rising young talent, he will open the show on the Channel 5 live broadcast.

The 24-year-old has name-dropped the unbeaten Essex ā€˜Destroyerā€™ throughout the build-up and after telling the press earlier this week it was a fight he wanted, he put Benn at the top of his hit list in front of the press conference cameras.

ā€œItā€™s the fight Iā€™m looking for and Iā€™d love to get Conor Benn into the ring,ā€ stated McKenna before stating he’d get the job done inside the distance.

ā€œIt would be a dangerous fight for him and I think that Eddie Hearn would know that. It would be too dangerous for him as Benn hasnā€™t come up against a puncher yet and he wouldnā€™t make it past four, five or six rounds against me. Iā€™d get him out of there really quick.

ā€œIā€™ve been watching him and seeing a lot of flaws and once he comes up against a guy like me heā€™s going to end up on his back. Iā€™m still progressing and after a couple more fights we could make it happen, maybe next year. It would be a great fight that would capture the attention of the English and Irish fans.ā€

ā€œIā€™m still 7-0 and heā€™s 18-0, I know that if I fought him now Iā€™d beat him, but after some more fights then next year Iā€™d love to get the fight.ā€

Benn’s famous father and UK legend Nigel Benn twice lost to Irish fight legend Steve Collins and McKenna believes Ireland would be celebrating again if they ever end up trading leather.

ā€œWherever heā€™d want to do it, in England or in Ireland, heā€™ll end up like his dad and getting beat by another Irishman. Iā€™d just love to get him into the ring. You can see he leads with his emotions and heā€™s crying before fights and heā€™s very emotional. The minute he gets in the ring with me heā€™ll know what heā€™s in for.ā€

Jonny Stapleton

Irish-boxing.com contributor for 15 years and editor for the past decade. Have been covering boxing for over 16 years and writing about sports for a living for over 20 years. Former Assistant Sports editor for the Gazette News Paper Group and former Tallaght Voice Sports Editor. Have had work published in publications around the world when working as a freelance journalist. Also co-founder of Junior Sports Media and Leinster Rugby PRO of the Year winner. email: editoririshboxing@gmail.com

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