Hearn says the fight has been planned for months as talks move toward final terms
Eddie Hearn says a fight between Conor Benn and Ryan Garcia has been in place behind the scenes for months. He added that the deal is close as talks move toward final terms.
“I don’t know if it’s signed, but this fight was planned months ago. Everybody’s expecting it to happen,” said Hearn to iFL TV about the Garcia vs. Benn fight.
The comment places the fight beyond early talks, with Benn positioned for Garcia as his next opponent if terms are finalized.
Hearn also indicated that commitments may already have been made on Benn’s side, which could affect how the final deal is structured.
“Oscar don’t always play ball, and he’s got good leverage because they’ve already promised Conor Benn the fight’s done, so they’re going to have to pay up,” said Benn.
That situation gives Oscar De La Hoya leverage in negotiations, with Golden Boy Promotions involved on Garcia’s side, while Benn is tied to Dana White through Zuffa Boxing.
The potential structure of the fight adds another layer, with Garcia holding the WBC welterweight title and Benn positioned as a leading contender. Discussions have included a catchweight around 150 pounds, which would move the bout away from a standard title defense.
Benn last fought Regis Prograis in a decision win, while Garcia enters the matchup following a victory over Mario Barrios, setting up a UK vs USA bout if terms are finalized.
No date or venue has been confirmed, but Hearn’s comments indicate the fight is expected to happen once final terms are completed.
Additional details around the fight structure continue to be worked through, including weight, sanctioning considerations, and final promotional terms between the involved parties. The expectation remains that once those elements are resolved, an official announcement will follow, with Benn aligned toward Garcia as the intended opponent.
