Stephen McKenna is eyeing a showdown next summer with Conor Benn, but has warned that he is too strong for him.
McKenna has eight stoppages from as many professional bouts and fellow undefeated contender, Benn is at the top of his hitlist as he looks to operate as a Welterweight, having predominantly campaigned as a Super Lightweight.
Benn is rising the 147lbs ranks and faces Adrian Granados at Matchroom’s Fight Camp on July 31st, however the Irishman has claimed that ‘The Destroyer’ is small for the weight and believes he would prove too much for him.
“I’m building into a big strong 147, I’m six foot one, I’ll fill into a massive 147,” McKenna said to Hennessy Sports.
“I was big for 140 so coming up for 147 I feel a lot stronger and working on my power punching. It’s going to be exciting at 147, there’s a lot of names out there that I’d be after.
“As you know Conor Benn’s one of them, I’d love to get him into the ring, if he’ll get into the ring with me. I don’t think he’d want it.
“He knows, he knows I’m too big too and strong for him. I’d have no problem taking Conor Benn out of there. I’d fight him in the morning. Conor Benn’s really only a wee small super-lightweight. He’s not a 147, he’s very small, I’m too strong and big for him.”
’The Hitman’ dispatched of Damian Haus inside the opening round on the undercard of Sam Eggington’s unanimous decision win over Carlos Molina in Coventry in May.
McKenna, who sparred Josh Taylor prior to his undisputed Super Lightweight title win over Jose Ramirez in May, is joining a decorated division which includes WBO champion, Terence Crawford, unified WBC and IBF titlist, Errol Spence Jr as well as Manny Pacquiao, who tackles Spence on August 21st in Las Vegas.
The 24-year-old is keen to move towards world level within two years and is targeting a clash with Benn back home in Ireland next summer.
“The 147 is a strong division at the moment and in the next two years I want to be up there winning a world title and be up there with them names,” McKenna added.
“Hopefully next year we’ll get big fights and get Connor Benn next summer. It’s a fight that the fans in the UK and Ireland would love to see and it would be a big fight.
“We need big fights back in Ireland as well and it could happen there and in the UK the fans would love to see it.”
