Conor Benn says he did not understand the scale of father Nigel Benn’s boxing career until he was 16 years old. The WBC welterweight title challenger explained that boxing was barely discussed at home, even though his father had held world championships in two divisions.
Benn shared the family story while speaking with Daniel Cormier before weighing 146 pounds for his title fight with Ryan Garcia. He said Nigel sold his championship belts for charity and kept his old career separate from family life.
I mean, my dad sold his belts to charity, and we never watched boxing together, and we never really, and we never spoke about boxing. I didn't even know my dad was Nigel Benn.
Watch the complete interview below. The discussion about Nigel Benn begins around the 5:55 mark:
A Religious Home Kept Boxing History Out Of View
Benn said his religious upbringing made the fame attached to his father’s career feel distant. Nigel’s accomplishments were not displayed around the house, and the family did not treat his boxing past as a source of pressure.
Bro, when you're raised in a religious church and my dad's accomplishments were almost frowned upon because of the life that came with it, and you don't speak about it in the household, and the belts are sold to charity, well, no, you don't know who Nigel Benn is. All I see is Dad. I didn't know my dad was a Hall of Famer or, like, a legend, or I didn't know any of that. So no, there was no pressure at all.
That changed during a trip to London. Benn saw the reception his father received at a public question-and-answer appearance and decided he wanted to pursue boxing for himself.
And then as you get older, maybe 16, I found out who my dad was in terms of, you know, being Nigel Benn and his accolades and the history. But no, I just sort of thought, let's see how far we go. Let's run it. See how far we go. I'm getting paid. It's cool. It's a challenge. And here we are.
Because we went back to London and we had a Q&A. My dad had a Q&A, and I was taken aback by the love and support and the fame and the superstardom that my dad had. So it was like, 'Wow, I want that.' As a 16-year-old kid at the time, I was like, 'Oh my God, I want that.' And then I started boxing a little bit, 17 to 18, had 20 amateur fights, and then at 19 turned professional.
Benn’s path eventually carried him through major fights and a move into a new promotional chapter. He signed a multi-fight deal after leaving Matchroom, a split that later produced Eddie Hearn’s claim about an offer tied to public criticism. The family influence Benn described was less about choosing that business route than building the habits needed to survive it.
Nigel Benn Put His Son’s Life Ahead Of Boxing
Benn credited his father with passing down resilience, discipline and a daily training routine. He also tied that example to his own faith and the way he handles difficult stretches in his career.
It may not make sense at the time, and it ain't always going to make sense. I'm a man of faith and I'm a man who prays, you know, so for me it may not have to make sense to me. But whatever it is, it's meant to be. Whatever I'm meant to feel, I'm supposed to feel it, go through the emotions. But definitely the resilience, the mindset, the discipline from my dad, the work ethic is with my dad. It was, you know, do as I say, but also do as I do. My dad led by example. We trained every day. He still, even now, trains every day. And that work ethic and discipline and mindset has passed down to me.
The younger Benn said Nigel’s priority has never been collecting another belt through his son. His father would choose personal happiness over a world championship without hesitation.
He don't care about boxing. He don't care about me boxing. He cares more about my personal life. If my dad could choose about me being happy in real life or being world champion, he chooses me being happy in real life every day of the week.
That relationship has remained visible during Benn’s biggest nights, including his two-knockdown victory over Chris Eubank Jr. in their 2025 rematch. Against Garcia, Benn will attempt to win the WBC welterweight title with the same father he once knew only as Dad still alongside him.
