Benson is ready for the big time
Scot vows to emulate ex-stablemate Taylor
THEIR stories have been intertwined since the beginning. From boys starting out at the legendary Lochend Boxing Club in Edinburgh, through the amateur ranks and Commonwealth Games adventures, before taking the plunge and turning professional, Josh Taylor and Lewis Benson have followed similar trajectories.
Last Saturday, Taylor wrote a new chapter as victory over Viktor Postol in Glasgow secured him his first shot at a world title. What happens next remains to be seen but the 27-year-old has already confirmed his place at boxing’s top table.
A year younger and with a career path that has been hampered through a spell on the sidelines through injury, Benson is building towards what his former stablemate already has. And, just as Taylor did when taking on an opponent with the pedigree of Postol — a former world champion — his fellow Scot is also prepared to take risks as he looks for the rewards.
Indeed, as Benson steps out on Saturday night to take on Englishman Johnny Coyle, a Prizefighter champion who boasts an 18-0 record, there can be little doubting his ambition. Having been brought up alongside one of the best, he is confident he is ready for the challenge.
‘I’ve sparred with the best super-lightweight in Britain — one of the best in the world — in Josh Taylor,’ said Benson, who has an undefeated record of 10-0. ‘I’ve sparred with Josh for years. Our last spar was just a couple of months ago. We had a good few days. It’s good work.
‘I do okay in those spars. But this boy is not a Josh Taylor. He’s not at that level.
‘Coyle is a southpaw but I like facing a southpaw — because I’ve been in the gym with Josh that long, since we were kids. I’ve always been used to it.
‘I was told Coyle was a slick southpaw. Some people would get worried facing a slick southpaw. But I’ve done thousands of rounds with the best southpaw in the country. Not many people will have done more rounds with Josh over the years. All that sparring over the years has helped me.’
Both Scots fought at Glasgow 2014 before stepping up to the pro ranks. Taylor has since moved on to Barry McGuigan’s Cyclone Promotions, while Benson’s fight in Belfast is on the Michael Conlan undercard with MTK Global. In his corner will be Terry McCormack, who has guided his career from the beginning and was also part of Taylor’s team against Postol.
It is with his experienced and highly regarded coach’s blessing that he is making this step up.
‘This fight for me is like when Josh fought Ohara Davies,’ continued Benson. ‘He’d had more fights than Josh — much like Coyle with me. It’s the same sort of thing. It’s the same step.
‘This is a massive fight. It could open up a lot of doors. I would be well inside the British top ten. There would be massive opportunities.
‘I didn’t have to take this fight. But I said to my coach: “I fancy this”.
‘Terry said to me: “If we want to get to where we want to go, we have to take these chances”.
‘And he went and watched him and said: “I think you are going to beat this boy as well”.’
As is so often the case these days, there has been some talk between the fighters on social media in the build-up.
Coyle, certainly, believes there is only going to be one winner — but wants Benson to not be a ‘little b***h running around the ring’ and ‘meet him in the middle’.
For Benson, it’s a sign that he has him worried.
‘He wants me to stand with him — go toe to toe — which means he knows I’m going to outbox him,’ he continued. ‘He wants me to stand with him but that isn’t going to be the case. I’ve got my game plan and that’s not going to change. I’m going to box smart.
‘Everybody loves a wee tear-up. But the first thing I will do in a fight is move around.
‘The problem I have is, when I get hit, I want to retaliate straight away. But I know I need to be smart. My coach wants me to stay smart. That’s the plan — and I will stay focused.
‘We know his flaws and we know what I’ve got to do.
‘I hope he is underestimating me. He called me a decent lad. I’m not a decent lad. I’m a really good lad. He’s in for a shock. Everybody is going to realise how good I am after this fight.’
The fight is on BT Sport and Benson believes this could be the lift-off point for his career.
‘It’s a great platform for me,’ he said. ‘I am guaranteed TV and everyone is buzzing for the fight. I’ve got nothing to lose — everything to gain.
‘Terry said to me the other week after sparring: “That’s the best I’ve ever seen you”. He never says stuff like that. That’s when you know you must be ticking the boxes.
‘I know it’s a hard task but I’m so confident it’s unbelievable. I believe this is the start of a long and successful career for me.’