Conor Benn – Recruit Number 11
Category: Press Pack ArticleConor Benn is a professional British boxer known for his explosive style and the fighting legacy he was born into. The son of former world champion Nigel Benn, Conor carved out his own path in the ring, racking up 23 wins—14 by knockout—without a single defeat, before his recent mega fight with Chris Eubank Jr in front of a sell out crowd of 67,500 at Tottenham Stadium in April. Nicknamed “The Destroyer,” Benn’s relentless drive and charisma have made him one of the most talked-about and followed figures in modern boxing.
Despite a privileged upbringing in Mallorca, Conor’s story is far from straightforward. Raised under the weight of fame, religion, and expectation, his early life was marked by both luxury and intense emotional struggle. Enrolled in a rigid Christian school where he was told he was “demon-possessed,” Conor endured childhood trauma that would stay with him for years. It wasn’t until he picked up a pair of gloves in Sydney as a teenager that he found an outlet—and a calling.
Returning to the UK at 19 with little more than self-belief and raw talent, Conor launched into his pro career with ferocity. Under the guidance of Tony Sims—his father’s former trainer—he quickly earned a reputation for finishing fights early and often. His 2016 debut at the O2 Arena ended in a first-round KO, and he hasn’t looked back since. While the media focused on his famous surname, Conor worked tirelessly to prove he was more than just a legacy—he was a fighter in his own right.
Yet the biggest fight of Conor’s life hasn’t taken place in the ring. In 2022, just days before a highly anticipated bout against Chris Eubank Jr—an echo of their fathers’ legendary rivalry—Conor tested positive for a banned substance. The fight was cancelled. Benn maintained his innocence and spent hundreds of thousands of pounds to clear his name, and eventually was cleared of any wrong doing by both the National Anti Doping Panel and the World Boxing Commission (WBC).
Stripped of gloves, headlines, and the comfort of routine, Conor joins the series not just to push his physical limits—but to reclaim a sense of identity, purpose, and resilience. For the first time in a long time, he’s not fighting for legacy. He’s fighting for himself.
Why did you say yes to joining Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins?
I just thought it'd be a great challenge. And I applied for the cadets when I was younger, so it was a challenge I fancied doing. My dad was in the military, so it was just something that I always wanted to try. This was a great experience for me.
What did you hope to sort of get out of the experience?
Just to see how tough it actually is, but also see how far I can go given how hard my sport actually is. I wanted to see how hard that challenge actually would be. And I can tell you that it's definitely challenging! I enjoyed it, I thrived off it.
Did you do any preparation for it?
I didn't do any preparation, just my standard training. I didn’t break my boots in until I was there. I know Tony Bellew and Joey Essex, who have taken part in the show before, so I kind of knew what to expect.
Who would you say you bonded with the most out of the others recruits?
It was a very different environment for me. For most of them in there, they’re used to TV, it's not something I'm used to. I’m used to my training and my routine. I love the gruesomeness of training and pushing yourself to limits and some people in there, you could tell, just weren't made for that. Troy was my mate in there, it was like a brotherhood. There was just a dynamic between us, you don’t force that kind of thing, it just happens.
Did you learn anything from the DS?
They are role models. I looked at them with the utmost respect, you know, and I honestly thought, going into the show, that I would have a problem taking orders from them. But because I have such a high level of respect for them. You know, they say jump, I say, how high? And I felt their respect too. I learnt that no matter what environment you're in, you have to be strong. You have to just be resilient and be tough. I can only imagine the level of fear that they had going into challenges they went into that you can't necessarily prepare for but you just get through. That just showed me how strong they are.
What did you find more challenging, the physical or mental side of the course?
Neither. I don’t have any phobias or anything like that so I wasn’t worried about the mental side of the course, I’m mentally tough. And I knew the physical would be fine too. It was just about pushing myself to see how far I can go. As long as I'm living and breathing and there's no spiders involved, I'm good!
How would you sum up the experience?
It definitely lived up to my expectations. It was very real. It was brutal, intense, can be mind breaking. But in a weird way, if you sort of ride the storm, you find yourself and find out what you're about, who you are. I find out who I am when I’m in the ring with another man. Whereas for the other celebrities, who don't have to go to that place to really find out what minerals they're made of, this is the perfect test. They can find out if they’re strong and put their resilience to the test.