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Five reasons why Conor Benn will not fight David Avanesyan

Conor Benn celebrates winning WBA continental welterweight title

Is Conor Benn wise to stay well away from experienced Russian welterweight David Avanesyan?

David Avanesyan has being trying to line up a fight with WBA continental welterweight champion Conor Benn for a while now. His team sent an offer for their man to fight Benn back in October 2021.

Fresh from destroying Liam Taylor at Wembley, Frank Warren popped an email to Benn's promoter Eddie Hearn. It sat in Hearn's "junk mail".

He was never going to take the fight for his man, who put in a career-best performance against Chris Algieri in December.
Benn made light work of the skillful New Yorker with a devastating fourth-round knockout over Algieri.
"Yeah, he did," said Hearn to iFL TV on Warren making an offer on Avanesyan vs Benn.
"The emails from Queensbury have gone to my junk items not intentionally. Sometimes I see things like that interview. Conor [Benn] actually sent it to me and he sent a screenshot.
"I went, 'I haven't had that offer.' I went to my junk items and there they were in my junk items. I got the offer."

Planet Sport looks at five reasons why Avanesyan vs Benn won't happen.

Avanesyan not on Benn radar

The offer, on the back of Avanesyan defending the European title with a second-round stoppage of Taylor, was rumoured to be £500,000.

"This is my opinion, but Conor will fight anyone tomorrow.

"I think Conor needs another fight before he fights David Avanesyan. David Avanesyan is a world-class welterweight," added Hearn.

Well, Benn had that fight - against Algieri, who he outclassed in Liverpool in December.

But a match-up with the powerful British-based Russian is not on the radar of Hearn.
Avanesyan looks likely to tackle WBA super welterweight champion Yordenis Ugas, who sent Manny Pacquiao into retirement last time out.

Warren vs Hearn

Warren claims to have been up front and eager for his man to face Benn.

"Let's cut through all the bulls***," Warren told IFL TV this week.. "At the end of the day he doesn't want Conor Benn to fight [Avanesyan]."

"All that arguing about 'more well known' or whatever it is is just a red herring. I don't blame him for kicking Conor Benn away from David, but let's cut through the bulls*** and say it how it is. He doesn't fancy the fight, he doesn't fancy his man in there with him.
"And if I was him, I'd do the same thing. I wouldn't let him anywhere near him. If he wants to make the fight, my offer is I'll pay for my man.
"They're happy with that, I'll pay him really well for it, because for me it's a great investment as far as a domestic fight in the UK, big fight that everybody knows."
Benn also said to IPL TV that he "would not do Warren any favours". And claimed Warren only sign Avanesyan on the back of a potential showdown with Benn.

Avanesyan and Benn are friends

While the rival promoters continue their crossfire, Avanesyan and Benn are friends. And after the win over Kelly, Benn visited the Russian's dressing room labelling him a "monster".
The Brit complimented his rival and said he was "strong" and looked forward to seeing him fight for a world title.
The pair shared a hug and had photographs taken. There's certainly no ill feeling or a score to settle.

Avanesyan is 'levels above'

The English manager of Avanesyan, David Marsh believes his man is a class above Benn.

"I don't want to disrespect Conor," Marsh told Sky Sports.

"I think he's come a long way. I just think that there's certain people hyping him up and adding pressure to the young man's shoulders, which they shouldn't be doing.
"He's very popular, he's got a popular style and he's a work in progress. We've got respect for him.
"People should be allowing the kid to develop a little bit more under the radar.
"David a is a true hard man, he fights anyone. If I say, 'You want to fight Conor Benn? Yes!'
"No disrespect to Conor, David is levels above him. Conor is getting closer, but David is a class above at the moment. It's not a dangerous fight. Of course, he'd fight Conor Benn, 100 per cent."
Unbeaten Albanian welterweight Florian Marku also believes Benn will continue to swerve the 33-year-old.

"I don't think Benn will ever take this fight. Avaneseyan is a different level to Conor," said Marku in to IFL TV October.

"And no way does he want to be near this level of fighter, he wants to be friends and not to fight. He knows the risk is big."
Asked how the fight would go, he replied: "I think Avaneseyan would stop him inside four rounds."

Benn looking for US challenger

Hearn, who fancied a shot at Amir Khan last year, is now looking for a US opponent next for Benn.

Benn is currently expected to return to the ring in April with former world champion Maurice Hooker a possible opponent for a London event.
Hearn was chasing a fight with experienced US fighter Adrien Broner after beating Algieri, but for the 32-year-old Broner the weight maybe an issue.
"It is the weight with Broner, he has it in his head that he can come in at 135lbs and 140lbs but he has never made it. I think if he lived a life he could make it at 140lbs," Hearn told Boxing Social.
"He wants to have what he has described as a 'real final run in the sport'. Now is that coming to England in April to fight Conor Benn straight off the bat at 147lbs? Or is that having a fight in American then coming over and fighting him?"
Broner's trainer Gerald Tucker has a world title in his sights but wants a few tune-up fights beforehand.

"Maybe two or three fights, gradually increasing the competition-level fight by fight," he said to The Sun.

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