Boxing: Conor Benn hopes for homecoming after win on return

The 26-year-old kickstarted his career at the Caribbean Royale in Orlando, Florida, USA on Saturday when he grafted to a 10-round unanimous points decision over tough Mexican Rodolfo Orozco, 24, with scores of 99-91, 99-91, 96-94.

Benn showed no signs of ring rust having defeated South Africa’s Chris van Heerden in his previous outing last April in Manchester before being hit with a suspension a few months later.

‘The Destroyer’ was due to meet bitter domestic rival Chris Eubank Jr last October but that was shelved weeks before the showdown after the East Londoner tested positive for a banned substance.

The British Boxing Board of Control and UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) had lodged an appeal against a decision by the independent National Anti-Doping Panel to lift Benn’s provisional suspension from boxing.

And Saturday’s emotional return saw Benn, the son of former multiple middleweight and super-middleweight world champion Nigel, contest his first bout at super-welterweight and register his 22nd straight professional victory.

“It was just good to be back,” Benn told Matchroom Boxing YouTube Channel.

“There was no ring rust. I don’t believe in ring rust. I believe if you stay in the gym then your work effort always shows.

“The lifestyles you live always shows and for me getting into the ring, it was just more getting back in the swing of things, getting back into the hostile environment, getting back into fight week, fight mode and being in this environment. That’s what all this was about.

“It was good getting the 10-round in. It was by far the hardest opponent I faced in terms of I wouldn’t say technically but strength, size and that Mexican blood.

“This was me overcoming so much, I’m proud of myself.”

West Ham United fan Benn thanked his coaching team and promoters Matchroom Boxing for helping him through a bad phase, adding: “I know people who had to move mountains for me to get to where I am now.

“I’m so ever grateful. For the people in the network and the people who have shown me support to help me to get where I am now because I wouldn’t be able to do it on my own.

“I’m just grateful for my team, I’m grateful for my promotional company, thankful for my close friends and people I work with, but most of all my supporters who continue to give me support and the strength and courage to keep fighting.

“Britain is my home and it’s only right I fight back there, sooner rather than later.”