Conor Benn has been written off in brutal fashion by a former two-weight world champion, with Paulie Malignaggi predicting Ryan Garcia knocks the Brit out inside six rounds when the pair meet next month.
Garcia makes the first defence of his WBC welterweight title on September 12, headlining a Zuffa Boxing and Golden Boy card at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. He claimed the belt in February by outpointing Mario Barrios, while mandatory challenger Benn arrives on the back of a unanimous-decision win over Chris Eubank Jr in November. None of that has stopped Malignaggi pouring cold water on Benn’s clash with Garcia.
Why Malignaggi is writing off Conor Benn
Speaking to Pro Boxing Fans and as carried by Boxing News Online, the former champion pointed to a gulf in both skill and power between the two welterweights.
Ryan knocks him out. The fight doesn’t go six rounds, in my opinion. [There’s a] disparity in skill; disparity in power. I don’t think Conor Benn’s that good. [Whereas] Ryan Garcia’s a very good fighter when he’s motivated. This fight is an opportunity for him to make a statement, because he’s fighting a guy who’s got a big name but also a guy who probably doesn’t belong in the ring with him.
Benn has not boxed at welterweight in more than four years and has made no secret that he sees his future at higher weights. On September 12, he gets his chance to make Malignaggi eat those words.
