Conor Benn and undisputed lightweight champion Katie Taylor are set for December 11 returns in Liverpool, Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn announced today at the Cameron-McGee show in London.
Hearn declined to name opponents for either, but for Benn, he gave some hints.
“The right steps at the right time. This young man would fight anyone now, but now’s the time to step to that next level. We talk about the (Robert Guerrero, Victor Ortiz, and Chris Algieri), these kind of guys — that’s the kind of fight Conor will be in on December 11.”
Hearn also said that lightweight/junior lightweight Joe Cordina (13-0, 8 KO) would be in a “big fight” on the show.
Taylor (19-0, 6 KO) has fought twice this year, beating Tasha Jonas on May 1 and Jennifer Han on Sept. 4. Jonas gave Taylor something to think about in the ring, but Han didn’t, and more fighters are going to be closer to Han against Taylor than Jonas against Taylor. The idea of a rematch with Jonas isn’t the worst thing, really.
Benn (19-0, 12 KO) has been taking solid and carefully plotted steps in his last three fights, beating Sebastian Formella, Samuel Vargas, and Adrian Granados. Chris Algieri may be the easiest fight to secure of the three names Hearn mentioned, but it also might be none of those guys — and Algieri might also be the toughest opponent of those mentioned, too.
Benn was last out on Sept. 4, as well, for his win over Granados, and will be fighting for the third time in 2021. Hearn says they are finalizing Benn’s opponent this weekend, and full news on the card will come next week.
The Tweet from DAZN about the announcement amusingly makes it look like Benn and Taylor will face one another, which doesn’t seem fair. Benn would be terribly weight-drained getting down to 135.