Eddie Hearn dubs Conor Benn a mini Mike Tyson after Chris van Heerden battering

Conor Benn fights like boxing legend Mike Tyson, according to his promoter Eddie Hearn.

Britain’s top welterweight prospect announced himself on the world stage by knocking out South African Chris van Heerden in the second round on Saturday night at the AO Arena in Manchester.

Calls for him to mix it with the likes of Danny Garcia and Keith Thurman soon followed on social media, as fight fans were quick to make their voices heard.

Benn, 25, is ranked as high as No.5 in every single one of the sport’s governing bodies off the back of his wins over Chris Algieri and Adrian Granados.

But his rapid climb up the rankings is no surprise to Matchroom chief Hearn.

He says he boasts similarities to ‘Iron Mike’ in the way he fights.

Speaking on talkSPORT, he said: “I just think the older guys now, we always see that older generation don’t really want to fight a young lion.

“Amir Khan, we’ve been having a few chats, he was at ringside on Saturday [for the Van Heerden fight] and I think he was like ‘do you know what, I’ll pass!’

“Conor Benn comes out from the first round like a Rottweiler and that’s why he’s so entertaining.

“That’s why he’s such a big draw because fighters don’t really fight like that anymore.

“He fights like – and I know this is a big statement – he fights like, I won’t say the ability yet, but the style of Mike Tyson.

“Where he comes out and he just wants to take people’s heads off. That’s why people love to watch him.”

Hearn also believes that Benn can succeed both Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua as the posterboy of the UK.

He continued: “When you look at UK posterboys: [We’ve got] Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua… Even going back to Amir Khan – gone. Kell Brook – gone. [Chris] Eubank Jr – if you put him in