Conor Benn makes weight ahead of welterweight clash with Chris Van Heerden

Conor Benn has made the weight ahead of his welterweight showdown with Chris Van Heerden in Manchester on Saturday night.

The promising young fighter from Greenwich weighed in at 146.5lbs, while Van Heerden also made the weight, posting a total of 145.8lbs. 

Both fighters then engaged in a face-off, separated by Benn’s promoter Eddie Hearn.   

Conor Benn and Chris Van Heerden faced off ahead of their welterweight clash in Manchester

The fight is expected to be Benn’s last before he makes the step up to challenge the elite

The bout is the latest step in Benn’s fledgling career as he aims to continue his remarkable rise from a flawed prospect to a genuine contender in a thriving welterweight division.

Hearn said this week that the contest with experienced southpaw Van Heerden would be Benn’s final test before challenging the elites at at 147lbs.

‘The growth of Conor Benn is astonishing,’ Hearn told Sportsmail. ‘I don’t say that disrespectfully, but when I first watched him… to think he’s on the verge of a welterweight world title is incredible.’  

Benn has been tipped for promising things in the sport after a difficult start to his career

Having declared himself ready for the welterweight top dogs last year, and having been sat ringside to watch Kell Brook dismantle Amir Khan in February, the announcement of Van Heerden as his opponent was rather unanimously deemed underwhelming.

Indeed, the 34-year-old is more known for sparring Conor McGregor in 2016 than for any victory inside the squared circle. But, while showing vast improvement in the last 18 months, Benn has not yet shared the ring with a southpaw of any real note.

Benn had previously raised the possibility of taking on the winner of the fight between Brook and Khan.