EXCLUSIVE: Joe Cordina reveals Conor Benn hit his dad Nigel in the kidneys during a sparring session to leave him ‘sulking out of the gym’

• Conor Benn will be ringside to support Joe Cordina in Monaco on Saturday 
• Cordina bids to defend his super featherweight crown against Edward Vasquez
• Listen to Mail Sport’s new boxing podcast THE HOOK – with exclusive interviews 

Joe Cordina has lifted the lid on Conor Benn’s sparring sessions with Nigel Benn and joked about how there would be foul play and sulking in the gym.

Cordina is looking to defend his world super-featherweight title for the first time against Edward Vazquez in Monte Carlo on Saturday night.

The Destroyer is expected to be ringside for the fight as he is a close friend and stablemate of Cordina’s – having trained under the same coach, Tony Sims.

When asked about his relationship with Benn during an exclusive interview with Mail Sport, Cordina said he was delighted to hear the 27-year-old would be attending.

He also touched on Benn’s return to the ring in September and lifted the lid on The Destroyer’s sparring sessions with Nigel.

Joe Cordina is set to receive the support of Conor Benn in Monaco on Saturday night

Cordina has revealed the details of Benn’s sparring sessions with his father Nigel, left

Speaking about Benn’s return, Cordina told Mail Sport: ‘It was great. It was obviously kept under wraps for a very long time.

‘It was only on fight week that it was announced and he was brought out to Orlando. Obviously we all knew.

‘I was going to go over for it to do a little training session but I think it would have messed my training up, travelling, trying to get used to the time and getting back. It just wasn’t the right time for me.

‘It’s great for him to go out and get the victory. He is training like a demon back at home. You have Nigel with him. He’s training just as hard as Conor.

‘They are always competing against each other in the gym. They had a little body spar the other day. I think Conor tried to do him around the back.

‘He did him in the kidneys. Then Nigel went sulking out of the gym. It’s good to have Nigel over. He is good for Conor. It’s good to have Conor back.’

Benn cruised to a unanimous-decision points victory over Rodolfo Orozco on his eagerly-awaited return to boxing in Orlando on September 23.

Benn had been out of the ring for 17 months after failing two drugs tests in the lead-up to his proposed mega-fight with Chris Eubank Jr last October.

Benn, right, cruised to a points victory over Rodolfo Orozco on his return to boxing last month

Details of a grudge match between Chris Eubank Jr and Benn could be revealed soon

Benn rocked Orozco with a number of crisp right hands throughout the contest, yet he also had to endure a few hairy moments himself, particularly in the eighth round.

Yet when the final bell sounded, he had done more than enough to mark his return to the sport with a victory and tee-up another fight with Eubank.

News regarding the Benn vs Eubank fight should be coming in the next couple of days, with Eddie Hearn claiming the bout could take place in January.

‘The beef and the bad blood is very real between Conor Benn and Chris Eubank Jr and I would expect it to be after what happened,’ Hearn said on the talkSPORT Breakfast show.

‘We want to close that fight in the next seven days. I believe you’re going to see Benn vs Eubank in January, it’s going to be a massive stadium fight in the UK.

‘We’ve still got to get the contract signed and see the ink dry. But that’s the fight we want to make, it’s the only one we’re interested in.’

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