Conor Benn reiterated today that he’s enthusiastic about fighting Ryan Garcia next at 147. This comes after Ryan said on social media that he’s open to fighting Benn (24-1, 14 KOs) next within the UK.
Benn Zeroes In on Ryan
The Matchroom-promoted Benn is seeking to make the most of his win over Chris Eubank Jr. last Saturday night in London through the use of the victory for an additional big payday. Conor made $10.5 million for the rematch with Eubank Jr. despite no world titles on the road.
Why Garcia Makes the Most Sense
Benn’s not going to make that form of money moving all the way down to 147 to challenge Mario Barrios for his WBC welterweight title next. He needs a preferred fighter like Ryan Garcia to get his third consecutive $10 million+ payday.
Barrios is the guy that Benn had said he desired to fight to capture a world title to “tick the box” of being a belt-holder. Nevertheless, draining down from the 170+ lbs that he’s been rehydrating to for his last two fights at middleweight against Eubank Jr. will likely be hellish for him to return to the 147-lb division to fight Barrios.
The 147 Weight Nightmare
It’s questionable if Benn may even make weight at 147 after three years away from the welterweight division. He hasn’t fought in the burden class since 2022, and he was facing the worst of the worst. If he drains down at 29 to fight Barrios, he might be just as weakened as Eubank Jr. was last weekend. He’d find yourself potentially losing to him, and that will mess up his ability to proceed to make thousands and thousands hustling non-title fights.
“I don’t play games or waffle such as you yanks do. Once I say let’s go, I mean let’s gooooo. Me v you next. I’ll sign immediately, and rest assured, I’ll knock you clean out,” said Conor Benn on X, replying to Ryan Garcia.
It’s not good timing for Benn to be calling out Ryan because he’s waiting on the final result of the Devin Haney vs. Brian Norman Jr. fight this Saturday. If Haney wins, Ryan will likely be facing him next. If he loses, he’ll surely go within the direction of facing Mario Barrios for his WBC title.
“Muscle weighs greater than fat, and he’s bulked up. He looks like a middleweight. So, he probably won’t give you the chance to make 147,” said commentator Duke McKenzie to talkSport Boxing about Conor Benn returning to welterweight.
No Path to a Belt
Benn has been out of the 147-lb division for too long for him to return at this point. The issue is, he lacks the talent to be a significant player at 154, and he can’t compete at 160 against the great fighters. It’s not going to work fighting the champions at middleweight using a 10-lb rehydration clause to handicap because that is their weight class. They’ll be high-quality with a rehydration clause, and a nightmare for Benn. Just imagine him fighting Janibek Alimkhnuly or Carlos Adames. It wouldn’t be a reasonably picture.
“Possibly at 154, but all of the champions are only as tasty at 147. So, I feel he’s stuck slightly bit. All of us need to be world champions. All of us need to tick that box. But saying it’s one thing, doing it’s one other. And I still feel there are levels to this game,” said McKenzie.
Nepo Baby Blueprint
Benn’s situation is bleak on the subject of winning world titles at 147, 154, or 160. He’s higher off continuing to rigorously select beatable opposition, as he’d been doing throughout his nine-year pro profession, making the most of his family name. It’s worked all this time to make Benn a millionaire, just because it’s worked for Eubank Jr. They’re nepo babies.
“I don’t think he’s ready for a world title fight,” said Duke about Conor Benn. “He’s not going to make welterweight and be strong, and he’s definitely not a middleweight. Everybody knows, and the world knows, that he’s beaten an absolute shell-shocked fighter in Chris Eubank Jr.
Benn is 29 years old and a millionaire, having never beaten any notable opposition. He’s not going to suddenly live within the gym, training with the hungry fighters to enhance enough to win a world title at 147 or 154.
By that age, you’ve either done something along with your profession or not. It’s too late for Benn. Again, he’s been out of the 147-lb division too long, and it’s going to depart him a weakened skeleton if he even attempts to return, which it doesn’t seem like he’ll. If Benn can lure Ryan Garcia to 154 or a catchweight of 157, that fight can occur.
“That victory flatters him because he had nothing to beat. Now, to drop back all the way down to 147, he now finds himself in the identical position that Eubank was in. He was weight drained. He’s not going to be strong at the burden,” said McKenzie about Benn.