BENN: KELL IS DELUSIONAL & VAN’S ALL TALK
CONOR BENN has branded Kell Brook ‘delusional’ and told Chris van Heerden, the man he will fight instead on Saturday, that he talks ‘utter b ****** s’.
Benn had hoped to face Brook next weekend but talks broke down amid suggestions the former IBF World welterweight champion wanted £10million for the fight.
As a result, the 25-year-old prospect faces South Africa-born, US-based Van Heerden in a battle he hopes will propel him closer to a world title fight this year.
Asked if the demands suggested Brook was ducking him, Benn said: “Who knows what’s going on in his and his team’s heads? It’s a bit delusional.
“Obviously, the April 16 fight was due to go ahead and it was either we wait to see what happens in negotiations with Kell Brook or we miss out on that date. But there was no interest from me and my team to miss out on April 16. We want activity, we want momentum, and at this stage of my career it’s crucial.
“If the fight happens with Brook, it happens. We’re at different stages of our careers. He’s at the tail end and wants to ride off into the sunset, I’m on the hunt for a world title.
“I’ll fight whoever they put in front of me.”
The man ‘they’ have put in front of Benn is Van Heerden, who said last week: “I’m a much better boxer than Conor.
“Conor is an emotionally angry fighter. He relies on his power. He cannot box with me.
“He’s not a boxer. He’s a power puncher and I don’t rate him as a boxer.”
Benn responded with: “It’s utter b ****** s. He needs to change the script. All you have to do is ask Chris Algieri, Sebastian Formella, Adrian Granados, Samuel Vargas… I boxed half of them and knocked the other half out. So he can think what he wants.”