Conor Benn makes light work of Chris van Heerden in Manchester

Conor Benn bolstered his case for a world title shot by stopping Chris van Heerden inside two rounds at Manchester’s AO Arena.

Benn had been expected to dispose of the experienced South African after producing some impressive performances over the last 18 months.

The 25-year-old welterweight duly delivered by taking out Van Heerden inside four minutes to extend his unblemished record to 21-0.

“It’s easy money. It’s violent money but it’s easy money,” Benn, the son of former middleweight and super-middleweight world champion Nigel, told BBC Radio 5 Live after his quickfire win.

“This is what I do. I love it. They can put me in there with King Kong, I’m not really fazed.

“I’ll back it up every single time. I knew I was going to knock him out, it was just a matter of time.”

Benn was joined in the ring after the fight by former world champion Amir Khan to fuel talk of a prospective fight between the two men.

“I saw some reports that he fancied a fight with me,” Benn said. “So I thought this was a chance (for him) to express that, but he didn’t seem too keen.

“That’s the promoter’s job, but if they offered me a world title fight next we’d take it.”

The 34-year-old Van Heerden had not fought since December 2020, but his southpaw stance presented a different challenge to one of British boxing’s hottest prospects.

Both men were busy in the opening round and Benn’s aggression caused Van Heerden early problems, with strong right and left hands to his opponent’s temple.

But the South African settled and started to find his rhythm as the first three minutes drew to a close.

It was a false sense of security, however, as Benn sent a couple of vicious short-range upper cuts through Van Heerden’s defence.

Van Heerden crashed to the