“At the end of the day, if I lost my next fight, all this would be gone in a click of the finger,” stated Conor Benn a few years ago in a Vice interview while talking about the fragility of his career. And while he is yet to lose a bout, 2022 brought a different kind of defeat. Benn has waited almost two years for this moment. A chance to redeem himself after failing two VADA tests, ahead of his fight against Chris Eubank Jr., a chance to restore his name and honor his father, Nigel Benn‘s legacy, whose rivalry with Chris Eubank Sr. defined the nineties era of British boxing. These last two years have been quite tough for The Destroyer, testing him outside the ring rather than inside. However, that is behind him, and now, he is only looking forward. And in front of him stands his sworn rival, and a chance to avenge his father’s loss against Eubank Sr. over three decades ago.

A victory here in front of a sold-out Tottenham Hotspur Stadium might put his career back on track. Whereas a loss will once again leave him at a crossroads, grappling with an uncertain future. The pressure must be intense enough to break most. However, Conor Benn is not an ordinary person. The Briton has been fighting against all odds for his whole life. Outplaying odds, exerting domination, and standing tall at the end of every hurdle, that is just what the Essex native has done his whole life. So, ahead of the historic April 26 bout, let’s look beyond the gloves and headlines to uncover the man behind the fighter. Because when the masks fall, there is much more to Conor Benn than just knockouts and controversies.

Where is Conor Benn from? Ethnicity and nationality

Born on September 28, 1996, in Essex, United Kingdom, Conor Benn has boxing in his DNA. His father, Nigel Benn, a former two-division champion, is one of the hardest hitters this sport has ever seen. His moniker, Dark Destroyer, suited him perfectly, given his 35 KO victories out of 42 total. Emulating his father, Conor has earned the nickname The Destroyer. However, at 5’8, he doesn’t strike as an imposing welterweight, yet the power resides there. And he is just not looking to survive through his father’s legacy. “Look at the life I get to live today, that’s because of my dad,” he stated proudly a few years ago, being aware of the privilege that has come with being Nigel Benn’s son.

Benn is far more self-aware than others give him credit for, and that is because his story isn’t just rooted in English soil. He lived in Mallorca, Spain, until he was twelve. Despite growing up in an affluent, gated community there, his father made him work from a young age so as to teach him the importance of self-reliance. So growing up, young Conor Benn would paint and decorate houses for €20 a day. In a 26-year-old’s own words, he lived a tough yet privileged life. He had all the resources, but his father made sure he never forgot the importance of hard work. A millionaire’s son with a working-class ethic, an aspect of Benn’s legacy that very few know.

After a brief stay in Australia, where another pivotal chapter unfolded, Benn moved to the UK at 19 to kick-start his professional career under Matchroom Boxing. Despite being a citizen of the UK, Benn occasionally visits and even has a camp in Mallorca, Spain. He trained on the Spanish island for his Eubank Jr fight as well.

What religion does Conor Benn follow?

Remember the Benn family’s brief stint in Australia? After spending the first few years in Mallorca, Conor Benn moved to Australia alongside his father, a place where Nigel Benn found religion and was reborn a Christian again. After a period of personal turmoil, including struggles with drugs, infidelity, and mental health, ‘The Dark Destroyer’ sought solace there again.

The Essex native has often credited his father for introducing him to Christianity. During his childhood, the 26-year-old attended a religious school in Mallorca, Spain, associated with an evangelical church, a harrowing experience for the youngster. “‘It was horrible — like a cult. I had things programmed into me which no kid should have. I’m like 12, 13 years old, they thought I had demons in me,” Benn described in an interview with Inentertainment. 

Those early lessons trained his personality and even his bond with his parents. Counseling and therapy helped to ease the sufferings, allowing him to understand the real meaning of faith and embrace it healthily. He reconciled with his parents and has kept his faith despite all the pain. “My tattoos remind me of a certain stage in my life, and whether I regret it or not it was what I wanted at the time. I’ve got a massive cross on my sternum, right at my core, and inside the cross it’s just flesh within an outline. That’s the only part of me I want to keep free, because that’s what I’ve been raised on: Christ, church and clean living at the centre of my core,” he confessed in a Vice interview.

After a long struggle, Conor Benn has made peace with his challenging childhood, embracing every lesson. One of those insights has proven invaluable, shaping not only his life but also his boxing career.

The real reason behind Conor Benn speaking Spanish

In 2021, Conor Benn grabbed all the headlines after an intense verbal spat with Samuel Vargas ahead of their clash. The surprising thing: he was trash-talking the Colombian in his native Spanish language. To casual observers, it was a surprising flex. However, now that you know that the Essex native spent 12 years of his early childhood in Mallorca, it isn’t hard to figure out his bilingualism.

Conor Benn’s journey might have looked like it under bright lights, but the truth is far grittier. He has struggled, faced his own demons, pushed them aside, and is still fighting them. On the weekend, he would once again challenge destiny. And if we have to learn something from history, it is that he always comes out on top.

What do you think of Conor Benn’s journey? Also, drop down your prediction for the upcoming Benn-Eubank bout.