Benn returns from a year of inactivity brought on by injuries and the COVID-19 pandemic when he fights Sebastian Formella on Nov. 21 at the SSE Arena, Wembley. The bout will now main event following the postponement of Dillian Whyte vs. Alexander Povetkin II.

The bout with Germany's Formella is viewed by many as the junior Benn's first flirtation with world championship level. Formella's last fight was a decision defeat to former IBF welterweight champion Shawn Porter in August.

And in an interview with Marc Gatford for My Betting Sites, his father — a former super-middleweight champion and one of British boxing's biggest household names — hit back at critics of the 24-year-old's pre-lockdown performances.

"Just because he was dropped by the Frenchman (Cedrick Peynaud) twice, they feel Conor’s a bit chinny," said "The Dark Destroyer".

"I got dropped by Anthony Logan, by Michael Watson, I got smacked around by Eubanks 30 years ago. But who got voted into the hall of fame, who got voted as the best middleweight by the WBC along Calzaghe? 

"I got put on my backside but I still went in there and achieved it. And I think Conor can do exactly the same."

The senior Benn then made a bold prediction, adding: "By the time he’s 25 he’ll either be world champion or on the right path because that’s when you start getting man strength. He’ll have full man strength by the time he's 25 and he’ll start banging people out."

The Londoner turns 25 on Sept. 28, 2021. That gives him less than a year to make good on his father's prediction and at the very least be in the world title picture.

A victory over Formella followed by a couple more wins against fellow contenders in the first half of next year could well set the prospect up to be in serious contention around his milestone birthday.

One of the names potentially standing between "The Destroyer" and a world title shot is domestic rival Josh "Pretty Boy" Kelly.

Nigel Benn noted that despite both fighters being young, his son receives far more critique than Kelly.

He continued: "When Josh Kelly drew out in New York no one really said anything about that, yet you want to jump on my son — who's doing really well and only had 20 amateur fights. 

"He has got pedigree. He’s not like that Josh Kelly who has had over 200 amateur fights. Conor’s learning his trade. He’s going all the way.

"If Conor fought like Kelly did I’d say to him ‘Conor, you got to go give the belt to the other guy, he won that fight’."

It's a fight the retired Hall of Famer is confident will happen, perhaps even early next year.

"I do see Kelly fighting Conor," said Nigel, "and for his sake sooner than later. He’s got good movement but if you can’t knock people out, that’s it.

"When you fight guys who don’t want to hit back you can do all your flashy stuff, but when you’ve got someone like Conor who can hit back, it’s completely different.  

"That will be a big fight and I can’t wait for that." 

Benn vs. Formella airs live Nov. 21 on Sky Sports in the U.K. and on DAZN in all nine DAZN markets including the U.S.