Conor Benn is targeting a big domestic bust-up, Devin Haney has found a test at lightweight and one of boxing’s greatest rivalries is set to return for a fourth fight. Here are five boxing stories you might have missed this week…
Conor Benn Targets Khan Or Brook
Undefeated welterweight Conor Benn, 17-0 (11), says he is eyeing up a huge domestic clash with Amir Khan or Kell Brook should he get past Samuel Vargas on Saturday April 10
Speaking to Matchroom, the 24-year-old said, "I’m not overlooking Vargas, but what doors open after him? I want a big domestic fight still. Someone that I can take that experience off.
“The Amir Khans, the Kell Brooks. The Josh Kelly fight is still there if he’s still fighting. The Amir Khan fight would be one hell of a fight. That would be a great British clash. Amir Khan was a fighter I looked up to and so was Kell Brook. Why not put me in with one of them after Vargas?”
Carl Frampton Vs Jamel Herring Headed to Channel 5
UK fight fans have been given a treat this weekend with the news that Carl Frampton’s bid to become a three-weight world champion against WBO super-featherweight champion Jamel Herring on Saturday will be shown for free on Channel 5 from 10pm.
Meanwhile, Frampton has said that if he loses this weekend, it will likely be his last fight. “Well I’ve spoken to people about this and again, I don’t want to sound negative,” he told TalkSport.
“But if I lose this fight, I will retire. So, in that sense, it could be but I am not going to lose. “I’m planning on winning and winning very convincingly and I think I will do that. After that, we’ll just make a decision, one fight at a time for me at this stage of my career. But I don’t plan on losing this fight.”
Devin Haney vs Jorge Linares Announced For May 29
WBC lightweight champion Devin Haney is set to face former three-weight world champion Jorge Linares in Las Vegas on May 29.
Linares will provide a stern test for the highly-talented Haney, who has struggled to attract a big name opponent and the Venuzuelan, though past his prime, is exactly what the doctor ordered. Linares is still in the top ten at welterweight at 35 and his only defeats since 2012 came at the hands of Vasyl Lomachenko and Pablo Caesar Cano.
UFC Heavyweight Champion Ngannou Considering Switch To Boxing
Francis Ngannou was crowned the UFC heavyweight champion of the world last weekend when he stopped Stipe Miocic in stunning fashion at UFC 26, but the French-Cameroonian MMA star isn’t just focused on the Octagon and hinted that a crossover into boxing could be on the cards.
When asked by ESPN about fighting Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury in the future, the 34-year-old said, “"This is in the future. I'm going to box. My main dream has always been the noble art. I deviated into MMA, which I love, but I still have to fulfil something in boxing."
Barrera and Morales To Reignite Legendary Rivalry In Summer Exhibition
Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales shared three of the greatest boxing matches of all-time between 2000 and 2004 in one of the most celebrated rivalries in boxing history. Now the pair, two of Mexico’s most revered pugilists, are set to do battle for a fourth time with an exhibition pencilled in for July 16.
The first bout was won by Morales by decision, and the remaining two were won by Barrera but all three fights were razor-thin and highly competitive. Morales, 44, last fought in 2012, while Barrera, 47, was last in action 2011.
Speaking to ESPN Deportes, Morales said, “We are very happy to be able to get back in the ring. Barrera was a great opponent for me in my career, we had three fights, two of them were the best [fights] of the year, and we are just finalizing some things. In a few days we will have the venue and see if we are going to use headgear or not. What has been decided is that it will be six rounds.”