If the Ryan fight falls through or he’s forced into a stay-busy” fight against a dangerous but low-profile contender, someone like a Richardson Hitchins or a sharp young lion at 147), Benn might struggle to find the motivation.
Ryan Garica is the fight Benn is obsessed with. Garcia just won the WBC welterweight title from Mario Barrios in February, so he’s not just a big name anymore.
Garcia has been teasing an August date in Vegas, but he’s also looking at a massive rematch with Devin Haney in September. Benn is effectively fighting for Garcia’s attention against the very men he claims are his other options.
“I’m 29 years old. I’m in the prime of my career,” Benn said, viewing the Zuffa deal as a move designed to capitalize on that window. “It means more eyeballs. Just exciting fights, mega fights, all the big names.”
Benn is 29 and claims he’s in his prime, but by aiming only for the absolute top tier, he’s at risk of being frozen out. If Garcia and Haney rematch in September, and Shakur takes another big fight, Benn could end up sitting on the sidelines for the rest of 2026.
“The big names are here in America as well. So for me it’s just a matter of coming over here and giving the public the fights that they want,” Conor said. “That’s the main thing for me in my career.”
“I’m not short of options. There’s a lot of fighters calling me out, big names calling me out,” Benn said. “If Ryan don’t want it, then there’s plenty of fish out there.”
The “plenty of fish” comment is classic Benn bravado, but it might be more of a coping mechanism than a reality. If he doesn’t land Ryan Garcia, he’s in a very precarious spot.
If Garcia and Haney are busy with each other, Benn’s “other fish” might turn out to be someone like Josh Kelly or Rolly Romero. While Rolly has a big personality, he’s not the “mega-fight” Benn is promising his fans.
Read the full article here