Conor Benn To Headline JD NXTGEN Card On June 21
Undefeated rising welterweight Conor Benn will get his first crack at headlining a Matchroom Boxing-promoted card.
It was announced that Benn will defend his WBA Continental welterweight title against Jussi Koivula on June 21. The fight will main event a card from the JD NXTGEN series at York Hall in Bethnal Green, London and will be streamed on DAZN in the United States and televised on Sky Sports in the United Kingdom.
Benn, the son of British boxing great Nigel Benn, first won the WBA Continental title last July when he won a unanimous decision against Cedrick Peynaud. Since then, Benn has fought just once which was a points win against Josef Zahradnik back on April 20.
Koivula has challenged for a number of belts in the past, including the EBU European Union, NABA and IBF Intercontinental titles. The 35-year-old Koivula is coming off a unanimous decision loss to Jordy Weiss on April 26.
Also announced on the card is BBBofC British junior middleweight champion Ted Cheeseman defending his title against an opponent to be named at a later date. Cheeseman will fight for the first time since losing first career bout against EBU European champion Sergio Garcia back in February.
Other fighters announced for the event include WBA Continental light heavyweight titleholder Craig Richards taking on Andre Sterling in a 10-round bout, Reece Bellotti looking to bounce back from a split decision loss to Ryan Walsh last year and American prospect Otha Jones III fighting in his second pro bout.
