The exciting young Conor Benn will enter the ring once more on Saturday in Manchester. Benn (20-0 with 13 knockouts) is one of the top six welterweights in the world according to the WBO, WBA, and IBF. He is hoping to secure his first major title fight by the end of the year, but he can’t look past veteran Chris Van Heerden. Van Heerden (28-2-1-1 with 12 knockouts) is a former IBO welterweight champion, and he challenged for the belt once again in December 2020.
Conor Benn will defend his WBA Continental welterweight championship for the seventh time on Saturday, April 16, 2022, from Manchester Arena. He will face Chris Van Heerden on DAZN on a card that will get underway at 2 p.m. ET.
When: Saturday, April 16, 2022
Where: Manchester Arena, Manchester, England
Why: WBA Continental welterweight title
Conor Benn vs Chris Van Heerden Betting Odds
Conor Benn -1682
Chris Van Heerden +800
Although he has yet to win a major title, Conor Benn is a heavy favorite by the boxing betting odds over Chris Van Heerden on Saturday. At this price, someone would need to wager $1,682 on Benn to win $100. A $100 bet on Van Heerden would return a cool $800 if he were to send the fans home disappointed.
As the fight nears, there will be decision betting too. You will be able to bet on whether the fight is decided by KO, TKO, or decision, and you can bet on which boxer will win the fight in that fashion as well.
Conor Benn vs Chris Van Heerden Preview
Conor Benn has championship blood in his DNA. His father Nigel Benn won titles at middleweight and super middleweight over his career, and the younger Benn is looking to carry on the legacy. He only became a professional fighter six years ago, but he has made a name for himself as a welterweight.
Benn showcased more knockout power than we are used to seeing from fighters in his weight class. That led to him challenging for the WBA Continental welterweight belt in July 2018, and he won a unanimous decision over Cedrick Paynaud.
He has been able to keep the title on English soil, and all of his title fights have been in the UK. Benn quickly knocked out Jussi Koivula and Steve Jamoye in his first two title defenses, and he sent Samuel Vargas to the canvas in just 80 seconds. His most recent title defense saw him knockout Chris Algieri just before the end of the fourth round in December.
Chris Van Heerden is a veteran fighter. He spent the first eight years of his career in his native South Africa, but his career took off after he beat countryman Kaizer Mabuza by unanimous decision for the IBO welterweight belt. Van Heerden defended the belt with unanimous decision wins over Sebastian Andres Lujan and Matthew Hatton before relinquishing it in order to gain citizenship in the US.
It was a little more difficult for Van Heerden in the states. He only won split decision victories over Ray Narh and Cecil McCalla, and he lost to a young Errol Spence Jr. in September 2015 in Toronto. He has not been in the ring much since that defeat with just six fights over the past six-and-a-half years.
Van Heerden did challenge for the IBO welterweight title in December 2020, but that fight was stopped in the first round due to a deep cut after an accidental clash of the heads. The fight was ruled a No Contest, so Van Heerden has fought just one round since August 2019.
Benn has a significant reach disadvantage. Van Heerden has a four-inch edge when it comes to reach, so he has the potential to keep Benn at bay.
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