“After, We’ll Make It Happen”: Eddie Hearn’s Determination to Stage the Benn vs. Stevenson Clash

Promoter Eddie Hearn says he was contacted by Conor Benn and Shakur Stevenson, with both saying they’re interested in fighting. Initially, Benn (23-1, 14 KOs) called out Shakur (23-0, 11 KOs) on social media, saying do you want to “do it next?” Benn says he’s game, and is interested in the fight after he defends against William Zepeda on July 12th at the Louis Armstrong Stadium in Queens, New York.

(Geoffrey Knott/Matchroom)

Benn vs. Shakur: Next?

Hearn says he’s interested in making the Benn vs. Shakur fight. If Stevenson can’t get the fight against Gervonta Davis next, he might as well move up to 147 or 154 to fight Conor Benn. The money Shakur would get for that fight would be greater than any he can get at 135, apart from Tank Davis.

“I spoke to Shakur. It’s funny. They were both texting me today about the fight at the same time,” said Eddie Hearn to Boxing News about Shakur Stevenson and Conor Benn, contacting him at the same time about a fight between them. “Conor fired me a text, saying, ‘Have you seen this?’”

Shakur will be giving away a lot of size if he agrees to fight Benn at 154. That might be too much for even him to overcome. For Stevenson to have a chance of winning, the fight has got to happen at 147 or at a catchweight of 143 to 145.

Now, the question is, will Benn and Shakur get through their next fights without getting beaten? Hearn says Conor and Chris Eubank Jr. will likely be meeting in a rematch on September 27th. Benn has already lost once to Eubank Jr. on April 26th. Getting beaten a second time will hurt his value if it’s a more one-sided defeat.

Stevenson has a tough fight on July 12th against William Zepeda in Queens, New York. That fight will be difficult for him due to Zepeda’s power, high volume punch output, and his aggressiveness. He’s not afraid of being hit. So, Shakur can’t count on him holding back the way Edwin De Los Santos did.

Simultaneous Texts: A Sign?

“Shakur messaged me, saying, ‘I’ll fight him.’ He talked about 147. I seen some 154 stuff. Listen, at the moment, Shakur has got Zepeda,” said Hearn. “Conor has got Eubank. After, we’ll make it happen. Everyone wants to fight Conor Benn. Shakur is one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world. Let’s make the great fights happen.”

A lot of fighters want to fight Conor for four reasons:

1. The money will be good
2. He’s still inexperienced and flawed
3. One-dimensional offense – all pot shots
4. No inside game

“Yeah, that’s what we expect,” said Hearn when asked if Eubank Jr. vs. Benn will happen next. “We’ve already been told September 27th is a likely date. His Excellency [Turki Alalshikh] said it live on air, and we expect that to happen in September.”