CONOR BENN SAYS 'CONCRETE PLANS' IN PLACE TO FIGHT RYAN GARCIA ON CINCO DE MAYO
Conor Benn says there are concrete plans in place to match him with Ryan Garcia on Cinco de Mayo in 2026.
Benn fought in November against Chris Eubank Jr. in a rematch and beat him by unanimous decision on The Ring's 'Unfinished Business' card at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
After spending 2025 campaigning at middleweight, where he's ranked No. 4 by The Ring, Benn is ready to move back down to welterweight to challenge for the WBC title.
Benn was recently ranked No. 1 by the sanctioning body and appears likely to face the winner of Mario Barrios-Garcia, which is set to take place on February 21.
'The Destroyer' assumes Garcia will beat Barrios to win the title, setting up a spring showdown.
"I'll be waiting for the WBC world title next," Benn told The Ring. "For me, that's always been a dream, it's been my plan, it's been my goal, and to win a WBC world title means everything to me.
"I don't think many nights will top my last fight in terms of victory, but I believe winning the WBC world title will, and I thank the WBC for giving me this opportunity to get that world title.
"I know that if Ryan Garcia comes through [against Barrios], from what I'm hearing, there are plans next, concrete plans. I think everybody's banking on him winning.
"It's an away day for the fans, shall we say. Vegas, T-Mobile Arena, Cinco de Mayo, sounds good to me, doesn't it?"
Should the plan come to fruition, it would mark the second big event taking place on Cinco de Mayo weekend, as David Benavidez is set to challenge Gilberto 'Zurdo' Ramirez for his WBA and WBO cruiserweight titles.
As a result of that schedule clash, it's also possible Garcia-Benn could move to later in the year.
Barrios-Garcia has yet to be confirmed but The Ring reported at the beginning of November a deal was close to being completed, and now an announcement is imminent.
Conor Benn vs. Ryan Garcia - 12 September 2026
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Ruthless-RKO
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Conor Benn vs. Ryan Garcia - 12 September 2026
Last edited by Ruthless-RKO on 11 Apr 2026, 18:07, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Conor Benn vs. Ryan Garcia - May 2026?
Oh how I wish he lost that rematch..
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Ruthless-RKO
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Re: Conor Benn vs. Ryan Garcia - May 2026?
Kindred spirits: Conor Benn wants to fight Ryan Garcia in a UK stadium
Should Conor Benn get his way in 2026, and land the fight he really wants, we will know then that all is forgiven – and forgotten.
The same can also be said for Ryan Garcia.
That is the man Benn hopes to fight at some point this year and, in many ways, they are made for each other, Benn and Garcia. Both, after all, have in the past fallen foul of drug-testers – Benn with two positive tests for clomiphene in 2022, and Garcia with a positive test for ostarine in 2024 – and both have been on a mission to clear their names and redeem themselves ever since.
For Garcia, 24-2 (20 KOs), that meant fighting Rolly Romero in Times Square last May, which was a fight he lost. However, so great is the Californian’s star power these days, his path to redemption continues in spite of that defeat, with the announcement yesterday of a WBC welterweight title shot against Mario Barrios in Las Vegas on February 21.
As for Benn, 24-1 (14 KOs), he has fought four times since testing positive (three wins, one defeat) and last time out secured a revenge victory, by decision, over British rival Chris Eubank Jnr at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. That result, and performance, led to many expressing a willingness to draw a line in the sand and allow Benn, a changed man, to move on with his career and prosper. It also put the Londoner in line for a shot at the same WBC title Garcia and Barrios are set to contest next month.
“I said I’d be WBC world champion. It was always the dream,” Benn told Sky Sports on Tuesday. “To be in touching distance of and made mandatory [challenger] for the WBC world title... I’ll be there ringside and I want the winner. No doubt it’s Garcia, so Garcia-Benn, I like the sound of that.”
As will many in boxing, regardless of the controversy surrounding the two welterweights involved. It is, despite their baggage, one of the more lucrative fights to make in 2026 and would act as further proof that sometimes controversy serves only to enhance the profile and mystique of a particular fighter. That is true even when the controversy pertains to a positive performance-enhancing drug test. Often, in fact, there is even more interest in a fighter when we suspect they have been up to good. After all, if any sport likes and knows how to use a bad boy, it’s professional boxing.
For that reason, we can expect Garcia and Benn to be touted as potential opponents for the next few months. Should Garcia beat Barrios in February, as Benn predicts, there will be no stopping them, with Benn, the number one contender, already starting to imagine and visualize it.
“[There was] something great about what Dalton Smith did [beating Subriel Matias in New York to become WBC super-lightweight champion on Saturday],” Benn said when asked whether he wanted to fight Garcia in America or at home in England. “I mean, listen, I’d love to do it in Vegas – I know the T-Mobile Arena is on hold for Cinco de Mayo – but I feel like I’ll bring it here to the UK for the supporters. Another stadium [fight] sounds good, doesn’t it?”
Sixty thousand fans filled a stadium – twice – to watch Benn fight Eubank Jnr last year and there’s no reason to think it would be any different in a WBC title fight against Garcia. Even if Garcia lacks the profile of Eubank Jnr in the UK, he more than makes up for that in controversy and out-of-ring shenanigans. Besides, it’s a good old redemption story, isn’t it? Everybody loves a redemption story.
Should Conor Benn get his way in 2026, and land the fight he really wants, we will know then that all is forgiven – and forgotten.
The same can also be said for Ryan Garcia.
That is the man Benn hopes to fight at some point this year and, in many ways, they are made for each other, Benn and Garcia. Both, after all, have in the past fallen foul of drug-testers – Benn with two positive tests for clomiphene in 2022, and Garcia with a positive test for ostarine in 2024 – and both have been on a mission to clear their names and redeem themselves ever since.
For Garcia, 24-2 (20 KOs), that meant fighting Rolly Romero in Times Square last May, which was a fight he lost. However, so great is the Californian’s star power these days, his path to redemption continues in spite of that defeat, with the announcement yesterday of a WBC welterweight title shot against Mario Barrios in Las Vegas on February 21.
As for Benn, 24-1 (14 KOs), he has fought four times since testing positive (three wins, one defeat) and last time out secured a revenge victory, by decision, over British rival Chris Eubank Jnr at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. That result, and performance, led to many expressing a willingness to draw a line in the sand and allow Benn, a changed man, to move on with his career and prosper. It also put the Londoner in line for a shot at the same WBC title Garcia and Barrios are set to contest next month.
“I said I’d be WBC world champion. It was always the dream,” Benn told Sky Sports on Tuesday. “To be in touching distance of and made mandatory [challenger] for the WBC world title... I’ll be there ringside and I want the winner. No doubt it’s Garcia, so Garcia-Benn, I like the sound of that.”
As will many in boxing, regardless of the controversy surrounding the two welterweights involved. It is, despite their baggage, one of the more lucrative fights to make in 2026 and would act as further proof that sometimes controversy serves only to enhance the profile and mystique of a particular fighter. That is true even when the controversy pertains to a positive performance-enhancing drug test. Often, in fact, there is even more interest in a fighter when we suspect they have been up to good. After all, if any sport likes and knows how to use a bad boy, it’s professional boxing.
For that reason, we can expect Garcia and Benn to be touted as potential opponents for the next few months. Should Garcia beat Barrios in February, as Benn predicts, there will be no stopping them, with Benn, the number one contender, already starting to imagine and visualize it.
“[There was] something great about what Dalton Smith did [beating Subriel Matias in New York to become WBC super-lightweight champion on Saturday],” Benn said when asked whether he wanted to fight Garcia in America or at home in England. “I mean, listen, I’d love to do it in Vegas – I know the T-Mobile Arena is on hold for Cinco de Mayo – but I feel like I’ll bring it here to the UK for the supporters. Another stadium [fight] sounds good, doesn’t it?”
Sixty thousand fans filled a stadium – twice – to watch Benn fight Eubank Jnr last year and there’s no reason to think it would be any different in a WBC title fight against Garcia. Even if Garcia lacks the profile of Eubank Jnr in the UK, he more than makes up for that in controversy and out-of-ring shenanigans. Besides, it’s a good old redemption story, isn’t it? Everybody loves a redemption story.
Re: Conor Benn vs. Ryan Garcia - May 2026?
As I said elsewhere the build up to this would be a laugh.
Benn, the English bloke who grew up in Spain & Australia, speaks fluent Spanish.
Garcia, the Mexican American who grew up a short drive from the Mexican border, doesn't.
Both grew up in nice Middle Class areas. I might be stretching that a little for Garcia. He grew up in a nice house in Victorville which is the Milton Keynes of California. But in a high desert setting.
I think this would be a good fight. I'll be watching.
First though we have to hope Garcia turns up against Barrios who always tries his best & is very fit.
It would be nice if Eddie & Oscar can work together to build a great undercard too but I'd imagine all the $$$ will be split between the four men mentioned above.
Benn, the English bloke who grew up in Spain & Australia, speaks fluent Spanish.
Garcia, the Mexican American who grew up a short drive from the Mexican border, doesn't.
Both grew up in nice Middle Class areas. I might be stretching that a little for Garcia. He grew up in a nice house in Victorville which is the Milton Keynes of California. But in a high desert setting.
I think this would be a good fight. I'll be watching.
First though we have to hope Garcia turns up against Barrios who always tries his best & is very fit.
It would be nice if Eddie & Oscar can work together to build a great undercard too but I'd imagine all the $$$ will be split between the four men mentioned above.
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Ruthless-RKO
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Re: Conor Benn vs. Ryan Garcia - May 2026?
Conor Benn wants to bring Ryan Garcia title fight to UK stadium straight after next bout against Regis Prograis
Conor Benn returns to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on April 11 to fight Regis Prograis and admits he doesn't know how the crowd will react to him; But if he is victorious he will target a title fight with Ryan Garcia and hopes to bring it to a UK stadium later this year
Conor Benn wants an immediate world title shot if he defeats Regis Prograis in their April 11 bout.
Benn expects to be victorious against Prograis, a former world champion, when they fight at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on the undercard of Tyson Fury's comeback against Arslanbek Makhmudov.
He plans to position himself to challenge for world honours - with Ryan Garcia, the holder of the WBC welterweight championship, his primary target.
Benn wants to bring that Garcia bout to a British football stadium too.
"Once this fight is done and out the way, God willing the victory is mine, I believe the world title is mine as well," Benn told Sky Sports.
"Provided April 11 goes to plan and I get the stoppage, I want to be straight back out.
"Another stadium show sounds lovely, doesn't it?"
Benn added: "I have just one goal and that is get the world title.
"Ultimately I'm in a position now where I'm really comfortable in life, but the work has become more relentless. The work has become more purposeful. There's more intent behind the work, and it's hard to say that considering I've always worked hard."
He wants to emulate his father, British boxing legend Nigel Benn by winning the WBC belt.
"He won that world title so for me it's my goal to win that world title," he said.
His next fight against Prograis will be at 150lbs, his lowest weight since 2022. Benn fought Chris Eubank Jr twice at middleweight but remains confident that he can still get all the way down to welterweight for a world title fight.
"It's only a few pounds over. Getting down to 150, based on how I'm feeling shouldn't be an issue at all," he said.
"It's exciting to get back down to my natural weight. You think for the Eubank fight I was walking around about 175lbs, which is outrageous. Looking back now, it's insane."
He intends to have an impact against Prograis, who's had two world title reigns down at 140lbs. The American has only lost to outstanding fighters: Josh Taylor in a 2019 barnburner, Devin Haney, a two-weight and former undisputed world champion, and Jack Catterall.
"I'm preparing for the best Regis, no doubt he's a dangerous fighter, he's a good fighter, southpaw and I'll be more than well equipped to handle whatever he brings," Benn reflected. "I'm going to be looking for that shot.
"I believe I get the stoppage. I prepare for the stoppage all the time, every single one of my fights I look for the knockout and I'll be looking for it."
This will be his first competitive outing since leaving Eddie Hearn's Matchroom Boxing for Dana White's new promotion Zuffa Boxing.
"Ultimately it's the best decision for my career, I'm really excited about this chapter," Benn said.
"I [saw] it everywhere, people messaging me, but ultimately I'm dialled in, locked in and focused on April 11. So for me everything else is just noise. Ultimately the goal is still the same and that's to win a world title."
He has changed promoter but maintains the same team around him, including head trainer Tony Sims.
"My whole team are with me until the wheels fall off," Benn said. "The team I've created and made over the past 10 years is a team that will be with me for life, until the day I decide to hang up the gloves. They have my best interests at heart."
He wasn't sure though what the crowd's reaction to him would be when he fights at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on April 11, his third consecutive bout at the north London venue.
"I don't know. You never know. I could be the good guy, I could be the bad guy. One day they love you, one day they hate you," he said.
"Ultimately I am who I am. Love me or hate me I'm Conor Benn and the way I am is the way I am. I wouldn't change for nobody. My job is to give you value for money. My job is for people to go home and go what a fight, what a good fight. That's my job and I do my job.
"You so dialled in and focused you don't really hear the noise," he continued. "For me them two [Eubank] fights will be hard to top throughout my career, even winning the world title I don't think will top them two fights."
His first bout with Eubank was a decision defeat, but won the prestigious British Boxing Board of Control award for Contest of the Year. He avenged the loss in his rematch with Eubank Jr, dropping his rival twice en route to his own decision victory.
He wants to deliver that kind of action again.
"Expect what you expect when you watch a Conor Benn fight, which is just excitement," Benn said.
"Ultimately I want to display more than aggression, more than that bruteness in me. I want to display boxing ability and boxing IQ, which because I'm a big puncher people forget that I have an intelligent fighter in there.
"I'm coming out there and I do take no prisoners. That's my style. I'm going to come out there and do some damage for sure. That's my goal. Give people value for money."
Conor Benn returns to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on April 11 to fight Regis Prograis and admits he doesn't know how the crowd will react to him; But if he is victorious he will target a title fight with Ryan Garcia and hopes to bring it to a UK stadium later this year
Conor Benn wants an immediate world title shot if he defeats Regis Prograis in their April 11 bout.
Benn expects to be victorious against Prograis, a former world champion, when they fight at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on the undercard of Tyson Fury's comeback against Arslanbek Makhmudov.
He plans to position himself to challenge for world honours - with Ryan Garcia, the holder of the WBC welterweight championship, his primary target.
Benn wants to bring that Garcia bout to a British football stadium too.
"Once this fight is done and out the way, God willing the victory is mine, I believe the world title is mine as well," Benn told Sky Sports.
"Provided April 11 goes to plan and I get the stoppage, I want to be straight back out.
"Another stadium show sounds lovely, doesn't it?"
Benn added: "I have just one goal and that is get the world title.
"Ultimately I'm in a position now where I'm really comfortable in life, but the work has become more relentless. The work has become more purposeful. There's more intent behind the work, and it's hard to say that considering I've always worked hard."
He wants to emulate his father, British boxing legend Nigel Benn by winning the WBC belt.
"He won that world title so for me it's my goal to win that world title," he said.
His next fight against Prograis will be at 150lbs, his lowest weight since 2022. Benn fought Chris Eubank Jr twice at middleweight but remains confident that he can still get all the way down to welterweight for a world title fight.
"It's only a few pounds over. Getting down to 150, based on how I'm feeling shouldn't be an issue at all," he said.
"It's exciting to get back down to my natural weight. You think for the Eubank fight I was walking around about 175lbs, which is outrageous. Looking back now, it's insane."
He intends to have an impact against Prograis, who's had two world title reigns down at 140lbs. The American has only lost to outstanding fighters: Josh Taylor in a 2019 barnburner, Devin Haney, a two-weight and former undisputed world champion, and Jack Catterall.
"I'm preparing for the best Regis, no doubt he's a dangerous fighter, he's a good fighter, southpaw and I'll be more than well equipped to handle whatever he brings," Benn reflected. "I'm going to be looking for that shot.
"I believe I get the stoppage. I prepare for the stoppage all the time, every single one of my fights I look for the knockout and I'll be looking for it."
This will be his first competitive outing since leaving Eddie Hearn's Matchroom Boxing for Dana White's new promotion Zuffa Boxing.
"Ultimately it's the best decision for my career, I'm really excited about this chapter," Benn said.
"I [saw] it everywhere, people messaging me, but ultimately I'm dialled in, locked in and focused on April 11. So for me everything else is just noise. Ultimately the goal is still the same and that's to win a world title."
He has changed promoter but maintains the same team around him, including head trainer Tony Sims.
"My whole team are with me until the wheels fall off," Benn said. "The team I've created and made over the past 10 years is a team that will be with me for life, until the day I decide to hang up the gloves. They have my best interests at heart."
He wasn't sure though what the crowd's reaction to him would be when he fights at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on April 11, his third consecutive bout at the north London venue.
"I don't know. You never know. I could be the good guy, I could be the bad guy. One day they love you, one day they hate you," he said.
"Ultimately I am who I am. Love me or hate me I'm Conor Benn and the way I am is the way I am. I wouldn't change for nobody. My job is to give you value for money. My job is for people to go home and go what a fight, what a good fight. That's my job and I do my job.
"You so dialled in and focused you don't really hear the noise," he continued. "For me them two [Eubank] fights will be hard to top throughout my career, even winning the world title I don't think will top them two fights."
His first bout with Eubank was a decision defeat, but won the prestigious British Boxing Board of Control award for Contest of the Year. He avenged the loss in his rematch with Eubank Jr, dropping his rival twice en route to his own decision victory.
He wants to deliver that kind of action again.
"Expect what you expect when you watch a Conor Benn fight, which is just excitement," Benn said.
"Ultimately I want to display more than aggression, more than that bruteness in me. I want to display boxing ability and boxing IQ, which because I'm a big puncher people forget that I have an intelligent fighter in there.
"I'm coming out there and I do take no prisoners. That's my style. I'm going to come out there and do some damage for sure. That's my goal. Give people value for money."
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Ruthless-RKO
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Ruthless-RKO
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Ruthless-RKO
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Ruthless-RKO
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Re: Conor Benn vs. Ryan Garcia - 2026?
Cinco de Mayo is less than a month from now so surely that plan has changed if it ever was actually the plan.
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Ruthless-RKO
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Ruthless-RKO
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Ruthless-RKO
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Re: Conor Benn vs. Ryan Garcia - 2026?
I hope the general public does indeed overhype Benn and make him the big favorite in a fight the knowledgeable fans expect him to lose. It'll be a nice reward for us for paying attention 
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Ruthless-RKO
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Re: Conor Benn vs. Ryan Garcia - 2026?
Love how no one likes Benn
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Ruthless-RKO
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smiling assassin
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Re: Conor Benn vs. Ryan Garcia - 2026?
I think Benn would struggle against Sergio Garcia let alone Ryan.
Benn is the most overpaid fighter for ability that I can think of.
Benn is the most overpaid fighter for ability that I can think of.
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Controversial
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Re: Conor Benn vs. Ryan Garcia - 2026?
Benn just wants big pay days, he’s already said he won’t be fighting for too long so he just wants to maximise his earnings and get out. Can’t blame him for that. But he looked very average last night, he actually looked a lot stronger at middleweight.
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mickey1975
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Re: Conor Benn vs. Ryan Garcia - 2026?
We are underestimating how shot Eubank was in fight 1. In fight 2 he could barely move. Benn has completely had it off financially.
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Ruthless-RKO
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Re: Conor Benn vs. Ryan Garcia - 2026?
Benn welcomes fight with 'coward' Garcia after lukewarm Prograis win
It may not have been the explosive re-entry to welterweight title contention that he would have liked but Conor Benn was more than happy with his unanimous decision win over Regis Progress on Saturday night.
Benn (25-1, 14 KOs) has been embroiled in a long-running middleweight rivalry with Chris Eubank Jr. but scaled just under 150 pounds for the 10-round fight.
Although Prograis (30-4, 24 KOs) went to great pains throughout fight week to stress that rumours of an injury ravaged camp were greatly exaggerated, he was clearly a shadow of the man who won two world titles at 140 pounds and announced his retirement after the fight.
Still, the 37-year-old Louisianan was knowledgeable and clever enough to keep Benn at bay and serve a timely reminder that whilst the 29-year-old’s rivalry with Eubank has made him one of the most high profile figures in the sport, he still has lots of improving to do if he is to enter fight with the welterweight division’s biggest names with genuine hopes of winning.
“It was great. It was an easy 10 rounds. I believe I won 10 of the rounds,” Benn told The Ring after the fight, which took place on the undercard of Tyson Fury’s victory over Arslanbek Makhmudov at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
“Regis was tough in there, tougher than I expected. I’m just excited to be back down to my natural weight. You know, it's been four years, so just excited to to be back down there.”
The fall out from Benn’s decision to end his long relationship with Matchroom Boxing in order to sign a highly lucrative promotional deal with Zuffa Boxing dominated the build-up to the fight with Prograis.
Benn refused to blame a lukewarm performance on outside the ring attention.
“No, all noise. I don't listen to the noise,” he said. “I'm at a stage in my life where noise doesn't affect me or bother me. Noise is noise. I'd rather people be speaking than not speaking about my career, good or bad.”
Clearly unimpressed by what he saw, WBC welterweight champion, Ryan Garcia (25-2, 20 KOs), took to X immediately after the final bell to voice his interest in fighting Benn.
Although he hasn’t made the welterweight limit of 147 pounds since beating Chris Van Heerden four years ago, Benn sits at No. 1 in the WBC rankings.
The lightening fast Garcia would represent an entirely different and altogether more dangerous task than Prograis but it is a challenge Benn feels ready for.
“Of course he calls me out now. He's a coward. He probably thinks, “How’s Conor looking at 147, 150 [for the first time in] four years. He weren't calling me out for the past two years, was he?” Benn said.
“Where's he been while I've been vocal and actively chasing that fight? It's cowardly, but you know, he can get it next and he'll get a better version of me.”
It may not have been the explosive re-entry to welterweight title contention that he would have liked but Conor Benn was more than happy with his unanimous decision win over Regis Progress on Saturday night.
Benn (25-1, 14 KOs) has been embroiled in a long-running middleweight rivalry with Chris Eubank Jr. but scaled just under 150 pounds for the 10-round fight.
Although Prograis (30-4, 24 KOs) went to great pains throughout fight week to stress that rumours of an injury ravaged camp were greatly exaggerated, he was clearly a shadow of the man who won two world titles at 140 pounds and announced his retirement after the fight.
Still, the 37-year-old Louisianan was knowledgeable and clever enough to keep Benn at bay and serve a timely reminder that whilst the 29-year-old’s rivalry with Eubank has made him one of the most high profile figures in the sport, he still has lots of improving to do if he is to enter fight with the welterweight division’s biggest names with genuine hopes of winning.
“It was great. It was an easy 10 rounds. I believe I won 10 of the rounds,” Benn told The Ring after the fight, which took place on the undercard of Tyson Fury’s victory over Arslanbek Makhmudov at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
“Regis was tough in there, tougher than I expected. I’m just excited to be back down to my natural weight. You know, it's been four years, so just excited to to be back down there.”
The fall out from Benn’s decision to end his long relationship with Matchroom Boxing in order to sign a highly lucrative promotional deal with Zuffa Boxing dominated the build-up to the fight with Prograis.
Benn refused to blame a lukewarm performance on outside the ring attention.
“No, all noise. I don't listen to the noise,” he said. “I'm at a stage in my life where noise doesn't affect me or bother me. Noise is noise. I'd rather people be speaking than not speaking about my career, good or bad.”
Clearly unimpressed by what he saw, WBC welterweight champion, Ryan Garcia (25-2, 20 KOs), took to X immediately after the final bell to voice his interest in fighting Benn.
Although he hasn’t made the welterweight limit of 147 pounds since beating Chris Van Heerden four years ago, Benn sits at No. 1 in the WBC rankings.
The lightening fast Garcia would represent an entirely different and altogether more dangerous task than Prograis but it is a challenge Benn feels ready for.
“Of course he calls me out now. He's a coward. He probably thinks, “How’s Conor looking at 147, 150 [for the first time in] four years. He weren't calling me out for the past two years, was he?” Benn said.
“Where's he been while I've been vocal and actively chasing that fight? It's cowardly, but you know, he can get it next and he'll get a better version of me.”
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Re: Conor Benn vs. Ryan Garcia - 2026?
Conor Benn Confirmed a Free Agent as Ryan Garcia Fight Targeted
Conor Benn has been confirmed as a free agent after completing a one-fight agreement with Zuffa Boxing following his victory over Regis Prograis in London.
Benn returned to action at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on the Tyson Fury vs Arslanbek Makhmudov card, defeating a clearly injured Prograis by unanimous decision over ten rounds.
The victory was Benn’s first outing since his high-profile split from Eddie Hearn and Matchroom, a separation that also reverberated through the sport.
Benn’s manager Keith Connolly had a very public fallout with Hearn which closed the door on working together with several fighters, including Edgar Berlanga and Richardson Hitchins.
Speaking to The Ring, Connolly confirmed Benn’s current status while praising the deal struck for the Prograis fight.
“I mean they were great to us. They gave us a tremendous deal. Nothing bad to say about them, in fact I have everything good to say about them,” Connolly said.
“Zuffa, Dana White, Netflix, and of course my good friend Nick Khan. Nick Khan is obviously a legendary business executive, but more important he’s a great human being. He’s fair and, like I said, we did a great business with them.
“We will sit down with them, but we’ll also see what’s out there, right? Conor’s a free agent. It was a one-fight deal, but the target will be to fight Ryan Garcia. And again, everything else is in the past and looking to move forward.”
Benn future wide open
Not many could believe the $15 million deal was a legitimate one-fight offering for Benn, considering the undercard slot and the opponent. Benn was using the fight as a weight exercise to get back down from the lofty heights of 160 pounds, where he faced Chris Eubank Jr. twice.
Speculation is already mounting that Benn may not even be able to make 147 pounds again, but that is his sole focus now due to a WBC ranking that could soon warrant a crack at champion Ryan Garcia.
The ranking itself has already raised eyebrows in the sport, particularly after Benn was installed as the WBC’s number one contender despite four years away from the welterweight limit.
Connolly’s mention of Garcia, along with Benn calling out the Golden Boy star during the build-up, appears to point toward a potential deal with Oscar De La Hoya.
However, before any negotiations can begin with De La Hoya, it is not out of the realm of possibility that Dana White re-signs Benn for another fight on a lower offer after the Prograis experiment.
There is also the unlikely path back to Eddie Hearn — not to join forces with the Matchroom boss again, but through a potential offer to face IBF champion Lewis Crocker.
Hearn and Benn do not have to realign for ‘The Destroyer’ to become the opponent across the ring from one of Hearn’s fighters.
Finally, there is Devin Haney, a permanent free agent who negotiates his own deals on a fight-by-fight basis, something that could now become the norm for Benn as he explores the next stage of his career.
Conor Benn has been confirmed as a free agent after completing a one-fight agreement with Zuffa Boxing following his victory over Regis Prograis in London.
Benn returned to action at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on the Tyson Fury vs Arslanbek Makhmudov card, defeating a clearly injured Prograis by unanimous decision over ten rounds.
The victory was Benn’s first outing since his high-profile split from Eddie Hearn and Matchroom, a separation that also reverberated through the sport.
Benn’s manager Keith Connolly had a very public fallout with Hearn which closed the door on working together with several fighters, including Edgar Berlanga and Richardson Hitchins.
Speaking to The Ring, Connolly confirmed Benn’s current status while praising the deal struck for the Prograis fight.
“I mean they were great to us. They gave us a tremendous deal. Nothing bad to say about them, in fact I have everything good to say about them,” Connolly said.
“Zuffa, Dana White, Netflix, and of course my good friend Nick Khan. Nick Khan is obviously a legendary business executive, but more important he’s a great human being. He’s fair and, like I said, we did a great business with them.
“We will sit down with them, but we’ll also see what’s out there, right? Conor’s a free agent. It was a one-fight deal, but the target will be to fight Ryan Garcia. And again, everything else is in the past and looking to move forward.”
Benn future wide open
Not many could believe the $15 million deal was a legitimate one-fight offering for Benn, considering the undercard slot and the opponent. Benn was using the fight as a weight exercise to get back down from the lofty heights of 160 pounds, where he faced Chris Eubank Jr. twice.
Speculation is already mounting that Benn may not even be able to make 147 pounds again, but that is his sole focus now due to a WBC ranking that could soon warrant a crack at champion Ryan Garcia.
The ranking itself has already raised eyebrows in the sport, particularly after Benn was installed as the WBC’s number one contender despite four years away from the welterweight limit.
Connolly’s mention of Garcia, along with Benn calling out the Golden Boy star during the build-up, appears to point toward a potential deal with Oscar De La Hoya.
However, before any negotiations can begin with De La Hoya, it is not out of the realm of possibility that Dana White re-signs Benn for another fight on a lower offer after the Prograis experiment.
There is also the unlikely path back to Eddie Hearn — not to join forces with the Matchroom boss again, but through a potential offer to face IBF champion Lewis Crocker.
Hearn and Benn do not have to realign for ‘The Destroyer’ to become the opponent across the ring from one of Hearn’s fighters.
Finally, there is Devin Haney, a permanent free agent who negotiates his own deals on a fight-by-fight basis, something that could now become the norm for Benn as he explores the next stage of his career.
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Ruthless-RKO
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Re: Conor Benn vs. Ryan Garcia - 2026?
a focused ryan garcia beats benn anyday for me benn might cause some problems with his busy style but gets picked off and stopped especially if hes got to boil down to 147 , think benn should fight at 154 personally
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Ruthless-RKO
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Re: Conor Benn vs. Ryan Garcia - 2026?
Eddie Hearn Rules Out Move To Re-Sign Conor Benn
Following his wide points victory over Regis Prograis in front of over 60,000 fans at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday, Conor Benn is reportedly a free agent.
“We’ll find out soon,” Hearn told reporters yesterday evening, regarding Benn’s free agency. “Obviously we need to look into that very deeply given the legalities of the process. It would be an amazing thing if that really were a one fight deal with no other conversations to tie him into a deal beyond that. We’ll find out very soon.”
Hearn added on whether he can make an approach to re-sign the British welterweight: “As I understand it I can. I believe that would be a complete waste of time and I certainly won’t be.”
“Everyone is criticizing him, criticizing his performance and when you are little bit below-par and talk the talk like Conor Benn does, you are going to get criticized,” Hearn explained. “I think the biggest thing is, everyone knew Regis shouldn’t have been in there. Obviously, his statement after the fight proves that. So, you would have expected him to have got Regis out of there, but Regis is an experienced guy, a tricky southpaw. I thought there was a lot of pressure on Conor.
“I just think he’s better up the weights’. I don’t think he has any power down there anymore. His punches didn’t look to have any zip in them. And I think he is better and stronger and sharper at up at 154 and 160 [pounds]. Obviously, he wants to fight for the title at 147.”
Following his wide points victory over Regis Prograis in front of over 60,000 fans at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday, Conor Benn is reportedly a free agent.
“We’ll find out soon,” Hearn told reporters yesterday evening, regarding Benn’s free agency. “Obviously we need to look into that very deeply given the legalities of the process. It would be an amazing thing if that really were a one fight deal with no other conversations to tie him into a deal beyond that. We’ll find out very soon.”
Hearn added on whether he can make an approach to re-sign the British welterweight: “As I understand it I can. I believe that would be a complete waste of time and I certainly won’t be.”
“Everyone is criticizing him, criticizing his performance and when you are little bit below-par and talk the talk like Conor Benn does, you are going to get criticized,” Hearn explained. “I think the biggest thing is, everyone knew Regis shouldn’t have been in there. Obviously, his statement after the fight proves that. So, you would have expected him to have got Regis out of there, but Regis is an experienced guy, a tricky southpaw. I thought there was a lot of pressure on Conor.
“I just think he’s better up the weights’. I don’t think he has any power down there anymore. His punches didn’t look to have any zip in them. And I think he is better and stronger and sharper at up at 154 and 160 [pounds]. Obviously, he wants to fight for the title at 147.”