Conor Benn Wants Keith Thurman Next, Believes He’d ‘Be Too Much For Him’

Conor Benn wants to face Keith Thurman next as he thinks it’s a logical next step in his career.

Benn is coming off a second-round TKO win over Chris van Heerden back in April to defend his WBA Contential welterweight title. It improved him to 21-0 and now the plan is to return in July and if everything goes his way, he wants to fight Thurman next.

“That’s the one I want out of the lot,” Benn told IFL TV (via BoxingScene). “That’s the main fight, is Thurman, out of the whole bunch that I just mentioned. Great fighter. But I believe I’d be too much [for Thurman].”

Keith Thurman is coming off a decision win over Mario Berrios to get back into the win column after losing to Manny Pacquiao. The fight was supposed to be a title eliminator fight, but there’s no question that if he were to fight Benn it would be massive.

Yet, if Thurman is not next for Conor Benn, he still has other names in mind but makes it clear Thurman is the person he wants.

“Well, I’ve mentioned the names Keith Thurman, Danny Garcia, Mikey Garcia,” Benn said. “I believe [Hearn] was reaching out to all of them. You’ve got Mario Barrios, you’ve got Hooker – but I ain’t interested in him. There were some other big names. Those were the teams he was going to be reaching out to…Jose Ramirez… I’d say the opponents you could fight as a final eliminator [are the ones I’m looking to fight next],” Benn added. “Keith Thurman fought Barrios in a final eliminator for the WBC, so it could be a final eliminator, interim-name level. So that’s where we are sort of hovering about. But if they offer me a world title next, I’ll take it.” 

Would you like to see Conor Benn vs. Keith Thurman next?