Conor Benn bagged ten vital rounds in his return to the ring against tough Rodolfo Orozco in Orlando, Florida.
Benn (22-0 14 KOs) showed little signs of ring rust as he tangled in the ring for the first time since April 2022, and landed heavy artillery on Orozco early, buckling the legs of the Mexican in the third round.
Orozco (32-4-3 24 KOs) absorbed that punishment and more throughout the ten rounds, but had that toughness synonymous with fighters from Mexico, and was able to provide a test of Benn’s own durability and punch-resistance, which the Brit passed with flying colors with scorecards of 99-91 twice and 96-94 – and considered it a good night’s work after enduring ‘hell’ over the last year outside the ring.
“We didn’t want a walk in the park,” said Benn. “I needed the rounds after 18 months out, he’s a true Mexican, my first Mexican I’ve fought, and we knew he was durable. Credit to him, he’s never been stopped before and he’s one tough man and I hope he progresses.
“[Junior middleweights] are stronger and take shots more, I don’t think there was ring rust, I was going through the gears after going through hell.
“Britain is my home and it’s only right I fight back there, sooner rather than later.”
Benn was scheduled to fight last October, against Chris Eubank Jr, but the fight was called off after news broke that Benn tested positive for a banned substance.
In order to fight in the UK, Benn will have to regain his license and resolve his ongoing legal issues with the British Boxing Board of Control and UK Anti-Doping – in connection to his drug testing drama.
There was controversy earlier in the night for the second Brit on the card, after Sandy Ryan’s Welterweight unification clash with Chicago’s Jessica McCaskill ended in a split draw, with the judges torn 97-93 McCaskill, 96-94 Ryan and 95-95 – both fighters felt they had done enough to get the win and called for it to be run back in an immediate rematch.