Undefeated welterweights Conor Benn and Peter Dobson square off in Las Vegas on February 3 with each fighter looking to move up the ranks. While both have the same number of losses on their resume, the road to this matchup has been quite different. Benn was on the fast track to the top of the division winning the WBA continental welterweight title in 2018 with eight successful defenses before his career was put on hold due to a suspension. With a more polished game and wins over some prominent boxers, Benn was positioned as a heavy -900 favorite on the opening betting line.
With some bouts canceled and fighters reluctant to tangle with Benn, the veteran Dobson was thrown a lifeline, and he happily grabbed it. The fact that Dobson is undefeated in his 16 professional fights gives him credibility, but he’s never been involved in a match scheduled for 12 rounds and his list of victims isn’t what boxing aficionados would call the best. Oddsmakers took notice with Dobson listed as a whopping +545 underdog.
Conor Benn vs. Peter Dobson Betting Odds
Conor Benn -900
Peter Dobson +545
The 12-round welterweight fight between Conor Benn ( 22-0, 14 KOs ) and Peter Dobson ( 16-0, 9 KOs ) will take place on Saturday, February 3, 2024 at the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas, Nev. and will be streamed on DAZN.
Conor Benn vs. Peter Dobson Fight Preview
There’s more than just the decision at stake when Benn jumps in the ring. A rising star in the division, Benn claimed the vacant WBA continental welterweight title in 2018 sending Cedric Peynaud to the canvas three times before emerging with a decisive unanimous decision victory. For the first time in his career Benn went 10 rounds and appeared to be getting stronger in the later stages with two of his knockdowns coming in round 7 and round 9. His eighth title defense was a second round TKO of Chris van Heerden in 2022 before Benn’s career took a sharp turn.
Six months after battering van Heerden, Benn was scheduled to fight former IBO and WBA middleweight champ Chris Eubank Jr. However, in a pre-fight PED screening Benn tested positive for a banned substance with the fight postponed. Benn was eventually suspended by the UK’s governing body of professional boxing. Though not completely cleared, Benn was given the opportunity to resume his career, which he did last September against Rodolfo Chavez.
After 18 months of inactivity Benn made a successful return scoring a unanimous decision in a less than sparkling performance. There were the expected moments of indecision and rust that come with a prolonged absence from the ring. You simply cannot replicate a live match with sparring partners. In a way the fight against a lesser-known opponent in the comeback bout was a good thing and likely planned just for this reason. When he’s on Benn has extraordinary footwork with devastating body punches.
Be careful what you wish for because you just might get it. Wanting a big-time opportunity to show off his boxing skill, Dobson was giving up hope of that ever happening. As the years came faster the fights came slower with Dobson reserved to being undefeated without ever having a shot at a title. A win in this fight still doesn’t get him that title or even a title fight, but it would get him closer than he’s ever been.
Another reason for the long odds is the amount of time Dobson has been out of the ring. His last fight was 20 months ago, a UD win over Rodrigo Damian Coria. While Dobson hasn’t entered the ring since that fight Coria has five bouts on his resume. While his recent opponents aren’t well-known outside the boxing world, they did have some sparkling records. In 2019 Dobson scored a TKO over previously unbeaten Emmanuel Medina in Las Vegas.
Bet Conor Benn vs. Peter Dobson
You can’t say Dobson lacks confidence. Upon viewing the opening odds he said, “If you wanna win some money bet on me. Benn is a bum and they got him beating me on the odds in Vegas.” Dobson has been impressive in his 16 fights, but the list of opponents isn’t special. And I would have an easier time backing the underdog if he had a few more fights under his belt leading up to this one. Both have something to prove but Benn is the more polished fighter and will wear Dobson down if this makes the later rounds.
Boxing Odds Pick: Conor Benn / KO
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