Conor Benn vs Chris van Heerden LIVE: Fight stream, latest updates and result tonight
Re-live round-by-round updates from the main event and undercard
Conor Benn earned an emphatic victory over Chris van Heerden on Saturday night, stopping the South African in the second round to retain the WBA Continental welterweight title. Benn, son of British boxing icon Nigel, remained unbeaten at 21-0 with the win, the TKO result marking the 14th finish that the 25-year-old has secured.
Benn had played down the significance of Van Heerden’s experience and southpaw stance all week, and so it proved that the 34-year-old was unable to trouble his younger opponent in the pair’s Manchester main event. Although Van Heerden landed some well-timed shots as Benn ducked upon entries in the first round, the Briton was unfazed and pressed forward to connect with more powerful shots than his challenger could muster.
In the second round, Benn continued to back up the South African, throwing numerous feints but remaining out of range. In a split second, however, Benn closed the distance with a jousting right hand, which marked the beginning of the end of Van Heerden. Benn followed the punch with a left uppercut, before a variety of right hands – a hook, uppercut and overhand – sent Van Heerden crashing to the canvas.
The former IBO champion did not come close to answering the count, and the bout was waved off inside the first minute of the second round.
Re-live round-by-round updates from Conor Benn vs Chris van Heerden and the undercard fights, below.
Benn vs Van Heerden
Cullen vs Belujsky – Round 1
Belujsky comes forward and takes the centre of the ring. The pair trade jabs.
An aggressive combination sees the Slovak miss with a couple of shots but land a hard right hook up top.
Cullen finds a home for a left hook to the body.
Another good hook upstairs from Belujsky. A strong first round for him.
Benn vs Van Heerden
Lancashire fighter Cullen, 28, has a professional recoord of 20-3-1 (9 knockouts).
Slovakia’s Belujsky, meanwhile, is 12-3-1 (8 KOs) at 26 years old.
Benn vs Van Heerden
The main card begins with a light-heavyweight match-up between Jack Cullen and Vladimir Belujsky!
Benn vs Van Heerden
Here’s a quick look at the preliminary results from this evening’s card:
James Metcalf def. Evgenii Vazem via fifth-round TKO
Luke Evans and Miguel Cesario Antin fight to draw (56-56)
Benn vs Van Heerden
“I believe I’m ready for a world title now,” said Benn this week. “I’m ready for the top dogs now. The proof is in the pudding, it’s not like I’m going to beat a domestic fighter and going, ‘Yeah, I’m world level.’
“It’s the form that I’m beating Formella more convincingly than Shawn Porter, Samuel Vargas more convincingly than Vergil Ortiz and Amir Khan, Adrian Granados more convincingly than Errol Spence.
“I have come a long way from being a raw novice but I am where I am. People are having a moan about Van Heerden, he was good enough for Ennis in his 26th fight but he’s not good enough for my 21st?
“It’s like a back handed compliment because they’re unintentionally putting me up there with those fighters but saying I’m too good to be fighting them.”
Conor Benn: I’m ready to challenge for a world title now
Benn is looking to move to 21-0 at Manchester’s AO Arena on Saturday when he takes on Chris van Heerden
Benn vs Van Heerden
Full card
Conor Benn vs Chris van Heerden
Chris Billam-Smith vs Tommy McCarthy
Alycia Baumgardner vs Edith Soledad Matthysse
Jordan Thompson vs Mariano Angel Gudino
Thomas Whittaker-Hart vs Ben Ridings
Campbell Hatton vs Ezequiel Gregores
Jack Cullen vs Vladimir Belujsky
Luke Evans vs Miguel Cesario Antin
James Metcalf vs Evgenii Vazem
Benn vs Van Heerden
Conor Benn will put his unbeaten record and WBA Continental welterweight title on the line tonight, as the Briton takes on South Africa’s Chris van Heerden.
The pair will main event at the AO Arena in Manchester as Benn, son of boxing icon Nigel, attempts to move closer to a marquee match-up at 147lbs. Last time out, the 25-year-old Benn stopped Chris Algieri in the fourth round in November, improving his record to 20-0 (13 knockouts). Van Heerden, meanwhile, fought to a No Contest against Jaron Ennis due to a cut to the South African’s head from an accidental headbutt. That bout took place in December 2020, so the 32-year-old Van Heerden (28-2-1, 12 KOs) will likely have to overcome some ring rust as well as hostile fans if he is to beat Benn.
Benn said this week: “I believe I’m ready for a world title now. I’m ready for the top dogs now. The proof is in the pudding, it’s not like I’m going to beat a domestic fighter and going, ‘Yeah, I’m world level.’”
Conor Benn vs Chris van Heerden card: All fights tonight
All you need to know about the main event and undercard
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