The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas sees Conor Benn take part in his first contest of 2024 this Saturday, as he meets the unheralded, but unbeaten Peter Dobson over a scheduled twelve rounds at welterweight.
DAZN televise Benn vs Dobson live, which will be at prime time for UK viewers.
Benn (22-0, 14 KOs) was making strides towards world title level in 2021, as he enjoyed wins against Samuel Vargas (TKO1), Adrian Granados (UD10) and Chris Algieri (KO4), but after ruthlessly stopping Chris van Heerden in two rounds in Manchester in April 2022, Benn’s career lay in tatters after an adverse finding in drug test prior to a mooted October 2022 meeting with Chris Eubank Jr.
Having been cleared by the NADP (National Anti-Doping Panel) last July, Benn returned to the ring in September, shaking off the rust with a ten round win on the cards at super welterweight against Rodolfo Orozco. The British Boxing Board of Control and UKAD continue to appeal the adverse test, and Benn handed in his British licence, meaning he continues his rebuild in the USA.
Although unbeaten as a professional, Dobson (16-0, 9 KOs) represents a chance for Benn to look good and further stake his claim for a world title shot. The 33-year-old from The Bronx has fought at a pretty low level, and has only been ten rounds once, a February 2022 decision win against Jose Miguel Borrego. Dobson hasn’t boxed since June of that year, taking an eight round win against Rodrigo Damian Coria.
Prediction: Benn will want to wipe Dobson out early here to send a message to his rivals, and he can do just that with a win inside the first three rounds.
Austin Williams return and Brits abroad – undercard preview
On the undercard, Austin ‘Ammo’ Williams (15-0, 10 KOs) defends his IBF North American middleweight title for the first time, as he meets the unbeaten Armel Mbumba-Yassa (10-0, 7 KOs). The contest is set for ten rounds. Williams won the title last September, taking a clear decision win against Steve Rolls, and he shouldn’t much trouble against Germany’s Mbumba-Yassa, who has never been past six rounds.
Prediction: Williams can defend inside schedule.
Johnny Fisher (10-0, 9 KOs) makes a USA debut, and ‘The Romford Bull’ should be able to stop Dmytro Bezus (10-1, 5 KOs), who was stopped for the first time in two rounds by David Adeleye in his last outing. It’s set for eight at heavyweight.
⏳Johnny Fisher wasn’t messing around at the weekend!
The knockout victory was one of the quickest in his career! #DAZN #Boxing pic.twitter.com/1p8KY14Xu4
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) June 13, 2023
The other eight rounder is at light heavyweight, where Khalil Coe (7-0-1, 5 KOs) can come through on the cards against the more experienced Juan Gerardo Osuna (20-0, 18 KOs).
The sole six rounder is at middleweight, and George Liddard (5-0, 3 KOs) should debut in America with a stoppage win against Andrew Buchanan (3-0-1, 2 KOs).
The card is rounded off with a four rounder, and British interest once more, as Jimmy Sains (2-0, 2 KOs) can halt Alejandro Avalos (1-2, 0 KOs) in their middleweight meeting.
