Conor Benn has been called out for a lucrative showdown in 2026 by master technician Shakur Stevenson
The 29-year-old Brit comes off a dominant performance against Chris Eubank Jr, exacting his revenge with a wide points victory in their middleweight rematch last month.
Both of their encounters, however, included the same weight stipulation: a 170lb rehydration limit for the morning of fight night.
For Eubank, this represented a tremendous hurdle, and despite winning their showdown in April via a unanimous decision, he ultimately looked a shadow of his former self in their vastly one-sided rematch.
Benn, meanwhile, has since insisted that his next outing will be back down at welterweight, where he now boasts a number-one ranking with the WBC.
Naturally, ‘The Destroyer’ has expressed his interest in facing the winner of WBC champion Mario Barrios vs Ryan Garcia, which is expected to take place early next year.
He is less keen on challenging world champion Lewis Crocker, whose IBF title means that he would be subjected to a fight-day rehydration limit of 157lbs.
This would put Benn at a similar disadvantage to what Eubank experienced, with the 10lbs rehydration policy hardly representing an appealing proposition.
Benn has now been offered similar terms by WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson, who insists he would want a rehydration clause in place for their potential clash — one both men have expressed interest in.
Speaking with Ariel Helwani, Stevenson said he would be open to facing Benn after his fight with WBO super-lightweight champion Teofimo Lopez on January 31.
“I think it can happen. I think that should be maybe next, after Teo – God willing I go do what I gotta do [against Lopez].
I want a rehydration clause, though. The weight I feel [most comfortable] at is 135[lbs] but, how high [can I go?] Probably 147[lbs].
I’m just fighting off skills. When I move up [to 147lbs], I’m so little that my skills are just going to take control.”
