Conor Benn admits he was ‘mad’ for being so driven to make it in boxing despite wealth of his legendary dad Nigel
CONOR BENN admits he was “mad” to be so driven to make it in boxing – given the life of luxury he was brought up in.
Benn was raised in a mansion as the son of a millionaire British boxing legend in Majorca.
It was only after moving to Australia as a teenager that he first picked up the gloves, winning 20 of his 22 amateur bouts.
That set for scene for Benn, the eldest of dad Nigel’s kids, to turn professional aged just 19 with the weight of the world on his shoulders.
The now-welterweight world title contender could have called in some favours to ensure he had an easy start to the sport.
But Benn was not interested in that and instead opted to wake up at the crack of dawn – often in the cold – to graduate from the school of hard knocks.
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He said: “It’s mad because people haven’t got a clue.
“The times where I had to get up at 5am and get the train from Henley Road in Ilford and walk to the train station, catch the train at 6am and then train.
“So many fighters these days wouldn’t do that and it’s mad to think that I did for quite a while. And I don’t know why I did.
“It’s mad, you look back and think, ‘Man, why did I do that?’
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“I see so many people today not in the position I was and they’re not willing to do that.”
Benn, 25, is now 21-0 with 14 knockouts and on the cusp of world honours.
Having seen off South African veteran Chris van Heerden, 34, in two explosive rounds last April, he is now eyeing a return in September.
Well-named ex-American world champions Keith Thurman, 33, Danny Garcia, 34, and Mikey Garcia, 34, are amongst the named targets.
- Read the full Conor Benn interview at sctr.co.uk