Conor Benn defeated Peter Dobson in a workmanlike unanimous decision victory on Saturday at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.
Many expected Benn to score a stoppage win against the little-known underdog, but the 246 punches the Brit landed over 12 rounds didn’t do much damage to Dobson during their 150-pound catchweight clash.
Soon after the fight, many notable observers chimed in with snides targeting Benn, who’s been dealing with the lingering aftermath of a performance-enhancing drug ordeal.
One such Benn detractor was Devin Haney.
In response to a message Saturday wondering “where has Benn’s power gone?” the 140-pound WBC champion Haney quipped that Benn “left that sh!t in the needle.”
Benn (23-0, 14 KOs) caught wind of Haney’s comments during his post-fight press conference.
“What the f— is he talking about? He hasn’t knocked anyone out in his last [eight] fights,” said Benn. “What’s he talking about, power? He’s never had power. My DNA is strong, don’t worry about that. He’s just jealous because he’s never had none. If he wants to come find out about the power, I’ll happily show him.
“He can get it next. He’s been very vocal. His dad Bill Haney has shown a lot of respect and a lot of class, but he needs to teach his little kid some manners. If he wants to come, I’ll deal with him no problems. He’s easy work. I’ll fight him wherever. I’m doing a little American tour at the moment. He’s got quick hands, fast feet, he’s athletic, but no more than me. But if he wants to talk about power, he’s never had none.
Haney’s father, trainer, and manager Bill Haney was in attendance for Benn’s performance and also crashed Benn’s presser to show the second-generation British star some support.
“Congratulations Conor. Good job,” said Haney while Benn was on the dais addressing the media. “I know it probably wasn’t the performance that you liked, but we know that you’re a real player in the game, so I wanted to come over here and tell you congratulations. Maybe we can do something … [your family is a] legend in the sport. And of course it would be an honor and a pleasure [for Devin to fight you] if that time presents itself.”
Manouk Akopyan is a sports journalist, writer, and broadcast reporter. He’s also a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and the MMA Journalists Association. He can be reached on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube at @ManoukAkopyan, through email at manouk[dot]akopyan[at]gmail.com, or via www.ManoukAkopyan.com.