Conor Benn and Katie Taylor both took to the ring in Liverpool for media workouts ahead of their respective fights this weekend.
The 25-year-old Essex native sent out a brutal warning to his Welterweight rivals by wiping out Samuel Vargas inside the opening round at the Copper Box Arena in April, living up to his nickname as he took just 1 minute and 20 seconds to viciously halt the durable Colombian.
Benn was left frustrated by the tactics employed by Adrian Granados after widely outpointing the Mexican-American in their rescheduled clash in Leeds but the rising star is expecting a much tougher assignment against the USA's former WBO Super-Lightweight ruler Algieri (25-3, 9 KOs) this weekend.
"The Formella and Vargas fights were great experiences for me because they showed me that I’m a fighter," said Benn. "You hear people say that they fight for the crowd and need a crowd. You don’t need the crowd there. It could be Donald Duck and Mickey Mouse sitting ringside for all I care. I’m not paying attention to who’s there, it’s me and my opponent and I’m going in there to iron him out. That’s my job. That’s my objective; and I’ll get it done.
Benn vs. Algieri tops a huge night of boxing in Liverpool, Irish sensation Katie Taylor (19-0, 6 KOs) defends her WBC, WBA, IBF, WBO and Ring Magazine Lightweight crowns against WBA Mandatory Challenger Firuza Sharipova (14-1, 8 KOs), ‘The Welsh Wizard’ Joe Cordina (13-0, 8 KOs) continues his push for Super-Featherweight World Title action in 2022 when he meets Belgium's Miko Khatchatryan (13-0 7 KOs), former European, British and Commonwealth Super-Lightweight Champion Robbie Davies Jr (21-3, 14 KOs) takes on Henry 'Hank' Lundy (31-9-1, 14 KOs) for the vacant WBA Continental Title, undefeated Belfast Middleweight talent Caoimhin Agyarko (9-0, 6 KOs) makes his Matchroom debut against Noe Larios Jr (14-0, 6 KOs) for the vacant WBA International Title, former Team GB star Calum French makes his professional debut at Super-Lightweight, Tokyo Olympian Peter McGrail (1-0) steps though the ropes for the second time as a pro against Engel Gomez (8-3-1, 4 KOs) over six rounds and is joined on the bill by his debutant brother Joe McGrail who fights over four rounds at Super-Bantamweight, Chatteris Featherweight Jordan Gill (26-1, 7 KOs) returns, while former professional footballer Paddy Lacey (1-0) has his third pro fight.