Stevenson, the current WBC Lightweight World Champion, recently defended his title with a wide unanimous decision victory over William Zepeda. In that fight, he stayed in the pocket, slipped around 700 shots, and showcased his stellar defense and countering abilities.
The proposed fight with Benn will see Stevenson jump up two weight divisions from 135 to 147 pounds. During their conversation, Stevenson expressed confidence in his ability to handle the weight difference:
"Let's make it happen … I won my fight. Your last fight what did you do? I just told you [I'll jump up two weight divisions] at 147. What are you gonna do? You're not that big, bro. You're not gonna hit me."
Benn, known for his knockout power, didn't back down from the challenge. He pointed out Stevenson's perceived vulnerability in his last fight:
"Zepeda almost knocked you out. I saw the legs buckle. I thought, at 135 this guy thinks he come come up 147 and fight me? We ain't close to the same size … Listen, I'll come back down and fight you at 147 in November."
Stevenson agreed to the November date, adding, "After I beat you, just tell me I'm great."
The potential match-up comes at an interesting time for both fighters. Stevenson has faced criticism for not being main event worthy due to a perceived lack of engaging fights. His performance against Zepeda addressed some of those concerns.
Benn, with a record of 23-1 and 14 KOs, has experience jumping weight classes. He recently moved up two divisions to face Chris Eubank Jr and plans a rematch with him in September.
Whether this fight makes sense for their career trajectories remains to be seen. For Stevenson, it's a chance to prove his greatness by moving up two weight divisions. For Benn, it's an opportunity to face an elite defensive boxer.
As the boxing world waits to see if this verbal agreement turns into a signed contract, fans can look forward to a potentially thrilling clash of styles come November.