CONOR BENN continues his rise. The younger fighter is increasingly popular not only due to his likeable personality, his famous father Nigel but his own increasingly impressive performances in the ring and crowd-pleasing aggression. He toppled American veteran Chris Algieri inside four rounds at the M&S Arena in Liverpool on Saturday (December 11) to set up an exciting 2022.
Benn began the first round with bad intentions. He almost leapt forward with his left hook, powering it into Algieri’s body. But the New Yorker still gave him food for thought. His right missed but a hard left hook burst upwards, catching Benn flush.
Benn stamped his physicality on Algieri in the second round. A cuffing hook had Algieri rolling across the canvas into the ropes. At first glance it looked like a startling power punch had connected, a replay suggested that was more of a balance issue with the swing forcing Algieri off his feet.
Benn showcased his defensive head movement in the third round, drawing a round of applause for his style. Struggling to land those jabs was problem for Algieri. He couldn’t establish himself in the fight, and all the while Benn bombed forward.
The younger man began to boss Algieri from the centre of the ring. He slammed his right hook into the American’s side. Algieri tapped him with his left hook but didn’t keep the Briton at bay.
Benn found a spectacular finish in the fourth round. A tremendous straight one-two blasted into Algieri. He listed forward from the ropes. Benn’s right arm was primed for a third punch but Conor held it back. He had already struck the finishing blow. Algieri pitched forward, falling to the canvas. He was dazed by the shocking force of the shot. Algieri couldn’t recover from that. Referee Bob Williams counted him out with two seconds left in the round.
Katie Taylor defended her championship on the same bill – read on here