The next fight for Conor Benn is the biggest of his career: a shot at Ryan Garcia’s WBC welterweight world title on September 12 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. But with the fight closing in, Benn has admitted the weight cut back to 147lbs has been “brutal” — and, remarkably, he is already talking about who comes after Garcia.
Speaking to Ring Magazine, ‘The Destroyer’ (25-1, 14 KOs) confirmed this will be his final outing at welterweight, whatever happens in Nevada. The bout headlines a card co-promoted by Zuffa Boxing and Golden Boy, and UK and Ireland fans can watch it live on DAZN, with the rest of the world served by Paramount+.
Conor Benn and a weight cut he says is his last
Benn has not made the 147lb limit since stopping Chris van Heerden in two rounds back in 2022. Since then he has campaigned far heavier — twice meeting Chris Eubank Jr at 160lbs and facing Regis Prograis at a 150lb catchweight — which is why so many, including former promoter Eddie Hearn, questioned whether he could still boil down to welterweight at all.
“Yeah, it’s hard. It’s brutal. This is my last fight at 147. When I win the world title, I’ll move on. I haven’t made 147 for four years, so it’s challenging.”
The cut is the sub-plot everyone will watch on the scales. Benn looked visibly drained before the Prograis catchweight bout last year, so his condition at the September 12 weigh-in matters before a punch is thrown.
Garcia first — but Benn is already eyeing a trilogy
Garcia (25-2, 20 KOs) is making the first defence of the WBC belt he took from Mario Barrios on points in February. Benn, who left Matchroom for Zuffa Boxing earlier this year, is convinced he ends the American’s night early.
“No doubt I’ll be looking for the stoppage myself. I think I’ll stop him. Yeah, I do.”
And in a sign of just how confident he is, Benn has already floated the fight he wants next — a third meeting with Eubank Jr. Benn lost the first bout of their revived rivalry before edging the November rematch on the cards, and, as reported by Pro Boxing Fans, he says he would relish settling it once and for all.
What’s at stake for Conor Benn
Win, and Conor Benn is a world champion for the first time, vindicating a jump back down two divisions that plenty doubted. Lose, and the questions about the weight — and the wisdom of chasing Garcia at 147 — only grow louder. Either way, Boxing News 24 notes he has left himself nowhere to hide by declaring this his welterweight farewell. The tease of an Eubank trilogy can wait; first, there is a belt to win in Las Vegas.
