Conor Benn believes that Samuel Vargas is his toughest opponent yet, but he is ready to step up and demonstrate his talent.
The 24-year-old English fighter was speaking to DAZN’s Ak & Barak Show where he admitted that, “It’s a step up for me. If I find the openings, I’ll take it, that goes without fail.
“I plan on going in there and showing that not only can I beat opponents at this level, but look good, and I do believe I have the power to stop him.
“I believe I can look as good - if not better - than the top dogs in this division.”
Looking at his rival Josh Kelly’s disappointing defeat to David Avanesyan, Benn paid tribute to the former Olympian and predicted that he would be back better, saying he does not celebrate the defeat of his fellow countrymen.
“It’s hard for me to say it could be a heart issue because I’m a fighter, and I believe you have to have some heart to get in the ring,” he said.
“I just don’t believe he likes it when it gets on top of him.
“I believe when it comes down to the nitty-gritty, it’s a matter of how much do you want it, and I think there’s a stage in your career when you will have those massive tests, you will have to have them fights when skill isn’t enough.
“But who knows what it could have been? Only him and his team knows that, and a champion will come back from that. It’s not the end of Kelly, he’ll come back and hopefully he comes back better.
“I was gutted for him, I was upset for him. I was more upset for him that he had that defeat. I was hoping he wins because you’ve got to support your British fighters.
“There are loads of Americans who are dominating the welterweight division, smashing the division.
“Where’s the British welterweights? You go out there and fly that flag. When you win that title, bring it back and I’ll happily take it off you.”
Benn fights Vargas on DAZN in many parts of the globe on April 10.