Conor Benn says being the underdog brings out his best, but his history in that role provides little evidence to support that claim heading into his September 12 fight against Ryan Garcia at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
“I like being the underdog,” Benn told Sky Sports. “I think I perform at my best. Every single one of my fights has led me to this moment. All the pressure I’ve had early on has prepared me for nights like those.”
Benn has been the betting underdog in only two completed fights, both against Chris Eubank Jr. He lost their first meeting by unanimous decision in April 2025 before winning the rematch seven months later.
Eubank was already in his mid-30s for those fights, yet bookmakers still favored him. That was understandable given how thin Benn’s resume was against top opposition before their rivalry.
The rematch also came with weight conditions affecting the naturally larger Eubank. More importantly, Eubank wasn’t the type of dangerous one-punch counterpuncher Benn will encounter against Garcia.
His previous opponent did much of his damage through combinations and was no longer at his peak. Garcia presents a different threat with a lightning-fast left hook that has produced some of his biggest knockdowns.
Benn’s aggressive style gives Garcia opportunities to land that shot. Charging forward into exchanges worked in earlier bouts, but those attacks can put him directly in range of Garcia’s best weapon.
The September fight will test Benn’s assertion that he performs best when doubted. This isn’t another meeting with an aging veteran. He’s facing a dangerous puncher in his own division with the exact weapon to punish the aggression he relies on.
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Last Updated on 2026/08/10 at 11:15 PM
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