Conor Benn reiterated today that he’s interested in 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 in the UK.
Benn Zeroes In on Ryan
The Matchroom-promoted Benn is looking to take advantage of his win over Chris Eubank Jr. last Saturday night in London by using the victory for another big payday. Conor made $10.5 million for the rematch with Eubank Jr. despite no world titles on the line.
Why Garcia Makes the Most Sense
Benn’s not going to make that kind of money moving down to 147 to challenge Mario Barrios for his WBC welterweight title next. He needs a popular fighter like Ryan Garcia to get his third consecutive $10 million+ payday.
Barrios is the guy that Benn had said he wanted to fight to capture a world title to “tick the box” of being a belt-holder. However, draining down from the 170+ lbs that he’s been rehydrating to for his last two fights at middleweight against Eubank Jr. will be hellish for him to return to the 147-lb division to fight Barrios.
The 147 Weight Nightmare
It’s questionable if Benn can even make weight at 147 after three years away from the welterweight division. He hasn’t fought in the weight class since 2022, and he was facing the worst of the worst. If he drains down at 29 to fight Barrios, he could be just as weakened as Eubank Jr. was last weekend. He’d end up potentially losing to him, and that would mess up his ability to continue to make millions hustling non-title fights.
“I don’t play games or waffle like you yanks do. When 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 outcome 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 in the direction of facing Mario Barrios for his WBC title.
“Muscle weighs more than fat, and he’s bulked up. He looks like a middleweight. So, he probably won’t be able 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 problem is, he lacks the talent to be a major player at 154, and he can’t compete at 160 against the good fighters. It’s not going to work fighting the champions at middleweight using a 10-lb rehydration clause to handicap because this is their weight class. They’ll be fine with a rehydration clause, and a nightmare for Benn. Just imagine him fighting Janibek Alimkhnuly or Carlos Adames. It wouldn’t be a pretty picture.
“Maybe at 154, but all the champions are just as tasty at 147. So, I think he’s stuck a little bit. We all want to be world champions. We all want to tick that box. But saying it is one thing, doing it is another. And I still feel there are levels to this game,” said McKenzie.
Nepo Baby Blueprint
Benn’s situation is bleak when it comes to winning world titles at 147, 154, or 160. He’s better off continuing to carefully select beatable opposition, as he’d been doing throughout his nine-year pro career, taking advantage of his family name. It’s worked all this time to make Benn a millionaire, just as 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 certainly 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 in the gym, training with the hungry fighters to improve enough to win a world title at 147 or 154.
By that age, you’ve either done something with your career 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 leave him a weakened skeleton if he even attempts to return, which it doesn’t look like he will. If Benn can lure Ryan Garcia to 154 or a catchweight of 157, that fight can happen.
“That victory flatters him because he had nothing to beat. Now, to drop back down to 147, he now finds himself in the same position that Eubank was in. He was weight drained. He’s not going to be strong at the weight,” said McKenzie about Benn.