Adrian Granados needs a win against Conor Benn for boxing future

Adrian Granados talked to FanSided about why he needs this win ahead of his bout with Conor Benn. Granados feels he will prove a lot of people wrong. 

Conor Benn and Adrian Granados were supposed to fight on July 31, but Benn tested positive for COVID-19, which postponed their meeting. They’re set to meet on Sept. 4, and Granados still feels a sense of urgency.

Granados (21-8-3, 15 KOs), 32, of Woodland Hills, CA, has been a contender for a long time. His record has some dings, but he has always stepped in against the best when given the opportunity. In his early 30s, Granados’s time to win a title might be running out.

In his last four boxing bouts, Granados has gone 1-1-2. He fought to a draw with Jose Luis Sanchez in May in an eight-round fight. Now, he meets Benn at Headingley Rugby League Stadium in Leeds, England.

Benn (18-0, 12 KOs) from the U.K. is one of the hottest up-and-comers in the welterweight division. The 24-year-old stopped Samuel Vargas in one round in April and is a dangerous opponent for Granados.

Granados has the experience over Benn, but his recent subpar performances have him feeling like he needs an urgent victory if he wants to continue boxing at a high level.

In many ways, Adrian Granados is fighting Conor Benn with the future of his boxing career in the balance

“Most definitely. This is a must-win,” Granados told FanSided. “I take a look at my last three fights, and it’s frustrating with some of them. Two out of the last three I ended up sending to the hospital, and those were the ones that I got a draw. I guess maybe I gotta send this guy out in the stretcher. Maybe I have to bring a pistol in the ring with me or something because it’s just, it’s getting ridiculous.”

Granados has power. He scored a TKO win in February but hovers at about a 45 percent KO rating. Benn has never lost, and as Granados mentioned, he doesn’t always benefit from the decision in bouts.

On the road against a power-punching young fighter like Benn in his home country, Granados could very well need a knockout to get the win.

“I believe so,” said Granados about needing a KO to win. “God willing that we can get some good judging, some good refereeing as well. I’ve even noticed that in a lot of my fights, you know, I felt like in the fight with Shawn Porter it was very one-sided refereeing where it almost looked kind of crooked to me.”

It’s always risky to leave fate in the ring up to the judges. We’ve seen some horrendous scores in 2021. At the same time, Benn has been cruising through the opposition. The odds are against Granados, but the veteran feels like he still has something left in the tank.

Will Granados score the win of his career, or will he be regulated to journeymen status? Watch Benn vs. Granados on Sept. 4 to find out. Coverage begins on DAZN at 2 p.m. ET.