Conor Benn has put domestic rivals Josh Kelly and Johnny Garton on his shortlist of potential future opponents as he looks to progess his career following timeout through injury.

The 22-year-old welterweight sustained yet another setback after tearing a tendon in the first round of his rematch victory against Cedrick Peynaud in July.

A future fight against “Pretty Boy” Kelly has got Benn’s juices flowing, as he believes he can expose defensive flaws in the highly rated 2016 Olympian.

Benn has been quoted as saying “If they said to me, after 10 months off with injury, ‘You want to go and fight?’ I would say ‘Yeah, give me Josh Kelly.‘

“His style is suitable to me. I watched his fight with Kris George. He was getting caught by slow left hooks all day long. Listen, I’ve put people to sleep with my left hooks, and my right, just saying.”

Winning the British belt is also of interest for the undefeated Benn, with current champion Garton currently the belt holder at British level in the 147lbs division.

Garton took the Lonsdale strap off Gary Corcoran in a epic battle back in October, and the 31-year-old from Peckham is likely to put on another explosive display against the young prospect from Ilford.

But ‘The Destroyer’ is ready to lay his reputation on the line following recent strong words from father Nigel, the former two-weight champion of the world.

Benn went onto say “I’d love to fight Garton, it would be a hell of a fight,”

“I think it would be pressure-relieving, if I went in as the underdog, rather than expecting to knock people out.

“When I’m expected to knock people out, I just try too hard. When I’m in with a slick operator, I like to stick it on them.

“I thought, I’m 21, I’ll wait until I’m a man before I fight. Well, let’s fight now, I’ll knock him out now. It ain’t a problem, let’s fight. My Dad has drilled that mindset into me only recently. Let’s fight, let’s have it, come on.”

By Kenny Leavett.