With Benn unable to fight in the UK, Matchroom decided to stage the event at a UK friendly time given the location of the majority of his following.
Held in the early afternoon in Vegas, the fight actually started earlier than Joshua Buatsi’s light-heavyweight contest against Dan Azeez in London.
The welterweight contender started the fight firing on all cylinders as he looked to add to his 14 stoppages, but his American opponent proved durable and soaked up the punches.
After a slow opening from the 33-year-old he tested Benn’s chin with heavy blows of his own, but the Briton stood firm to go the full 12 rounds for the first time in his professional career.
The three judges scored it 119-109, 118-110 and 118-110 for Benn.
The Londoner talked up a fight with two-weight world champion Devin Haney among others in the build-up.
“I’ll fight anyone, I’ll have whoever Eddie [Hearn] puts in front of me, no problem,” Benn said.
“I was in cruise control, it was alright. It was good work. I always gun for the first round. I don’t miss when I shoot. I landed the shots and he was still standing.
“You can always do better. I will go back and I will assess. Overall, this is more for me getting back to where I was mentally.”
