American WBA lightweight champion Gervonta Davis and Conor Benn are inching closer to a fight as Eddie Hearn, Matchroom chairman and Benn’s promoter, revealed that he would make an official offer to Davis today. The two fighters had been going back and forth on social media earlier this week, and may have the chance to put their words into action in the near future as Hearn prepares himself for a suitable offer to get Davis in the ring with Benn.
During a recent interview with Matchroom Boxing, Eddie Hearn substantiated on his plans to see the two fighters in the ring this year:
“I’ve spoken to Gervonta [Davis] personally and he’ll be receiving an offer from us today [February 7th] for that fight,” Hearn confirmed.
“I think it’s huge fight. [It] could happen in the UK, but we’re looking in America, for that [fight].“
As Hearn himself went on to mention, Hearn will try to make the fight at welterweight, irrespective of the fact that Gervonta Davis (29-0, 27 KO’s) has never fought in that division. The highest weight that Davis fought at was super lightweight/junior welterweight against Mario Barrios (28-2, 18 KO’s) in 2021 in a match that Davis ended up winning by stoppage.
The size disparity between Gervonta Davis and Conor Benn (23-0, 14 KO’s) did not go unnoticed by Eddie Hearn, but the Matchroom chairman went on to admit that Davis’ level of skill and boxing ability would likely compensate for his jump to welterweight if the potential fight was set to take place at that weight class.
“It’d be the first time for a couple of fights that he’d [Conor Benn] be fighting someone smaller than him,” Hearn told Matchroom Boxing.
“But he [Gervonta Davis] can really crack and he’s an outstanding fighter, so it’s a big ask for Conor―but this is what he wants. He wants those kind of tests, and I think Gervonta Davis versus Conor Benn is a fight that can really light up America and the UK.“
Though Benn has spent the past two bouts fighting in the United States, he does not enjoy the same level of popularity there as he does in the UK. However, a fight between him and Davis will likely still generate plenty of interest given Davis is considered a household name within the US.
Despite both fighters still being somewhat underachieving in their respective divisions―with Benn never having fought in a world title bout while Davis only recently became a world champion at lightweight when he was elevated from WBA ‘regular’ champion to full and sole WBA world champion―the match-up will be intriguing Davis’ limits when it comes to jumping up two weight classes are set to be tested. Benn will also gain the chance to prove himself as an elite talent depending on his performance against a multi-division champion in Davis.
