Conor Benn has a shiny Ryan Garcia title shot waiting on September 12, but the scale might be the first punch he has to eat. Benn is heading back to welterweight for the first time in four years, another hard reset after his late surge against Chris Eubank Jr. reminded everyone that his engine is not exactly decorative.
Benn has been living above 147 pounds lately, including his 160-pound rematch with Eubank and his 154-pound win over Regis Prograis in April. Now he has to peel back down to challenge Garcia for the WBC welterweight title, and former European champion Spencer Oliver does not sound sold on that plan at all.
The Fight Night discussion went beyond one warning. English boxer Giorgio Visioli first explained why he favors Garcia:
I said on previous interviews, I think Garcia would be way too much for him, too sharp. I’ve never really rated Conor Benn. I just think… I don’t know. I think he just boxes one way. I don’t think he can box, and that’s not being disrespectful. I just think Garcia has come through the amateur system. He’s gone, you know, boxed at really high levels — Tank Davis, Devin Haney. For me, I think he’d be way too sharp. Way too sharp, obviously if he turns up, but if he — you know what I mean.
Host Ade Oladipo pointed to the more complete attack Garcia showed against Mario Barrios:
I did his last fight against Mario Barrios, and finally he started to throw his right hand. And I was like, ‘Oh, that’s it then, isn’t it? Your left, your right, your speed is perfect for the weight.’
Former European champion Spencer Oliver then laid out his full concern about Benn returning to welterweight:
I’m concerned, I’m concerned about Conor Benn at 147, mate. I’m not going to lie. I think that could be a big, big problem. You know, we’re talking about levels to the game, and I’m sort of with you on it. Ryan Garcia is very much the proven versus the unproven. Conor Benn, you know, is a great self-publicist and, you know, he’s put himself in that position. Forget the Chris Eubank fights with a weight-drained Chris Eubank and a guy that probably passed his best at that time. Great win still, but when we’re talking about levels to the game, proven versus the unproven. And the unproven has never boxed at 147 for over four years. That’s a big worry.
Watch the complete Fight Night discussion below:
Garcia Looks Settled While Benn Has To Squeeze Down
That is the danger for Benn. Garcia already has high-profile experience against names like Gervonta Davis and Devin Haney, and MiddleEasy readers have seen this whole Garcia circus get loud before, from his Devin Haney feud exploding after their messy rivalry to the comeback-hit-list talk that dragged Jake Paul and Sean O’Malley into Garcia’s orbit.
Benn has also admitted this may be his last trip to 147 pounds, which tells you the cut is not exactly a vacation. If he wins, the move back to 154 or even 160 becomes a lot easier to sell, and the bigger fights open up quickly. If the cut drains him, Garcia’s speed and left hook could turn the night into a rough bit of business.
The September 12 card also has Jai Opetaia vs. Noel Mikaelian parked underneath it, so this is not a one-fight curiosity show. If Benn pulls the upset, he can crash the American market and keep the post-Matchroom conversation moving after Eddie Hearn’s strange $250,000 Conor Benn claim. First, Benn has to make 147 without leaving the best version of himself on the scale.
