WBO champion Shakur Stevenson has dismissed Conor Benn as a competitive opponent, stating Benn is ‘levels below’ him in skill. Stevenson believes that while Benn is a great businessman, his boxing knowledge is insufficient to ever bridge the significant talent gap between them.
Speaking on Andre Ward’s YouTube channel, Stevenson left no room for debate on his assessment of the British welterweight. He presented the gap between them as a fundamental difference in ability that cannot be overcome through effort alone. The champion was unequivocal in his judgment.
“As a fighter, he’s levels below. Like levels below. Levels like more than one level. It ain’t even a close debate to even talk about. Nah, he’s levels below,” said Stevenson. He did acknowledge Benn’s dedication but framed his progress as ultimately futile against a top-tier operator.
“What I will say about Conor Benn, he’s very focused and he is getting better. He’s not just staying in the same spot. I see him kind of getting better. But when you at this level and somebody at this level, you kind of like getting a little bit better, but it ain’t going to happen,” Shakur continued.
Stevenson attributed the disparity to a deeper understanding of the sport, suggesting Benn lacks the ring intelligence required to challenge him. “He don’t know enough. It’s not a lot of things that he know that I know,” he said about Conor.
While critical of his fighting prowess, Stevenson did credit Benn’s financial success. He contrasted Benn’s earnings with his perceived skill set, effectively accusing him of being over-marketed. “I think Conor Benn is a hell of a businessman. He’s a low-level fighter that’s making top-tier level money,” Shakur stated. Benn’s recent victories have come against opponents like Peter Dobson and Rodolfo Orozco, as well as against a 37-year-old Regis Prograis and a 35-year-old Chris Eubank Jr.
The verbal sparring comes after a potential fight was floated. Benn entered the ring following Stevenson’s victory over Teofimo Lopez, but the matchup has not materialized. According to Stevenson, his team reached out to make the fight but was told Benn’s camp was not interested. With Stevenson holding a title at light welterweight and Benn campaigning at welterweight, any future bout would require negotiation on weight and terms, but for now, it remains a public debate rather than a scheduled contest.
