An announcement for Conor Benn’s maiden world title shot against reigning WBC welterweight champion Ryan Garcia seems to be around the corner, and former promoter Eddie Hearn has predicted how Benn will fare in that fight.
Benn has not fought at welterweight since knocking out Chris van Heerden in April 2022, but has been installed as the WBC’s mandatory challenger, ahead of a return to what he believes to be his natural weight division.
Last Saturday, ‘The Destroyer’ was tasked with Regis Prograis in a 150lb catchweight affair, that being the first fight of his career not promoted by Hearn, and underwhelmed as he was made to work for a decision win against the 37-year-old.
After watching that fight, Hearn told Fight Hub TV that he believes Benn no longer possesses the punch power to hurt Garcia as a welterweight, siding with ‘King Ry’ in that potential scrap.
“Honestly, before Saturday, if I was his promoter, I would be saying that I think he [Benn] wins the fight, that I think that he can hurt him [Garcia] but that I think that it is a very tough fight.
“Now, I’m not his promoter, I still think that can hurt him but I don’t know if he can at 147lbs. I was watching that [Prograis] fight thinking, ‘you don’t look like you have any power or zip in your punches. Whereas, up at 154lbs at 160lbs, you looked strong’.
“Listen, it might have just been a poor performance, who knows?”
Garcia-Benn is expected to be officially announced in the coming weeks, with a fight date and location already revealed by the Californian superstar.
