Conor Benn beats Sebastian Formella and calls out welterweight rival Josh Kelly next after extending his unbeaten run to 17 fights

WBA continental welterweight champion Conor Benn retained his title and kept up his undefeated record, by defeating German boxer Sebastian Formella via a unanimous points decision on Saturday night.

The son of boxing legend Nigel Benn won his 17^th consecutive fight in dominant fashion with the judges scoring the bout 100-91, 99-91 and 99-92 in his favour.

His assertive performance led to him calling out WBA international welterweight and Commonwealth champion Josh Kelly after the fight.

The 24-year-old claimed: ‘I’m only interested in one fight, and that’s Josh Kelly.

‘That is the only fight I am interested in, you can forget all these other people calling me out because they have got loads of Instagram followers, I don’t care.

‘The only big domestic I want is Josh Kelly.’

Benn started the fight as he meant to go on, landing some stiff blows to the body in the first round while throwing plenty of solid jabs at Formella.

His strong showing continued through the second, third, and fourth rounds before reaching the halfway point of the fight having showcased some of his best boxing to date.

He seemed to effortlessly switch between the style of a brawler and some really composed and controlled boxing – landing plenty of heavy hits through the early rounds.

One right hand in particular caught the German fighter late in the fourth leaving him rocked, but to his credit he fought back and did not let Benn get his own way.

Formella had improved late in the fight, growing into the sixth and seventh round but not really troubling Benn.

He showed some impressive technique, slowing down the contest to allow himself to regain a bit of energy going into the final rounds.

That work was undone though, with Benn coming back strongly in the last few rounds to finish off the encounter in style.

A couple of big hits in the ninth left his opponent reeling, yet he managed to take it the distance which earned him some praise from promoter Eddie Hearn.

Hearn admitted: ‘I don’t know how Formella was still standing. He’s got a hell of a chin, but this was a big performance from Conor Benn.’

Victory for Benn means he goes into the new year still yet to lose, and with a big fight against welterweight rival Kelly just around the corner.

By Ali Pollock