Conor Benn: Briton secures points win over Peter Dobson in Las Vegas

Conor Benn claimed a unanimous points decision win over Peter Dobson in their welterweight contest in Las Vegas.

Benn started strongly but was pegged back by the previously unbeaten Dobson in the second half of the fight.

Every judge scored the fight for Benn, who extended his unbeaten record to 23-0.

Benn said the “dream” was to return to fighting in the UK, but the 27-year-old does not hold a licence in his home country.

The Briton is awaiting the results from the British Boxing Board of Control’s appeal of the lifting of his provisional doping suspension by the National Anti-Doping Panel.

Benn has always insisted he is innocent of intentionally doping after testing positive for female fertility drug clomifene in 2022 and the appeal could be heard this month.

“Once all of this is cleared up, I just want to get back to fully focusing on destroying people,” Benn said after the fight.

With Benn unable to fight in the UK, Matchroom decided to stage the event at a UK friendly time given the location of the majority of his following.

Held in the early afternoon in Vegas, the fight actually started earlier than Joshua Buatsi’s light-heavyweight contest against Dan Azeez in London.

The welterweight contender started the fight firing on all cylinders as he looked to add to his 14 stoppages, but his American opponent proved durable and soaked up the punches.

After a slow opening from the 33-year-old he tested Benn’s chin with heavy blows of his own, but the Briton stood firm to go the full 12 rounds for the first time in his professional career.

The three judges scored it 119-109, 118-110 and 118-110 for Benn.

The Londoner talked up a fight with two-weight world champion Devin Haney among others in the build-up.

“I’ll fight anyone, I’ll have whoever Eddie [Hearn] puts in front of me, no problem,” Benn said.

“I was in cruise control, it was alright. It was good work. I always gun for the first round. I don’t miss when I shoot. I landed the shots and he was still standing.

“You can always do better. I will go back and I will assess. Overall, this is more for me getting back to where I was mentally.”