Conor Benn has been accused of having done very little to deserve his WBC title shot against Ryan Garcia, who many feel is a level or two above the Brit.
Regardless, the two welterweights will collide for Garcia’s world title on September 12, headlining an event at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena.
The champion claimed his strap by dethroning Mario Barrios, who many considered one of the sport’s weaker titleholders, with a unanimous decision victory in February.
This was the first time Garcia felt what it was like to have his hand raised since April 2024, when he initially claimed a majority decision triumph over Devin Haney, only for the result to be ruled a no-contest after he tested positive for banned substance ostarine.
Benn, too, has previously failed two doping tests – both for clomifene in October 2022 – but has since found himself in two high-profile middleweight encounters with Chris Eubank Jr.
Their first fight, in April 2025, saw him suffer a unanimous decision defeat, before exacting his revenge by the same verdict in their November rematch.
Most recently, though, the 29-year-old outpointed a faded and since-retired Regis Prograis in April, emerging victorious at a catchweight of 150lbs.
Based on that performance, former undisputed super-lightweight champion Josh Taylor has told Fight Your Corner that he struggles to see Benn defeating British champion Conah Walker, let alone Garcia.
“Yeah [I stand by that he’s not British level.] I think there’s guys in the UK that would beat Conor Benn. I think Conah Walker would beat him.
“In that second Eubank fight, I thought [Benn] was very good. But then I watched him against Prograis and thought he was terrible.
“I just don’t think he’s on [Garcia’s] level. I don’t think he merits that fight.”
Not only is Benn yet to face a world-class fighter in his prime but, crucially, ‘The Destroyer’ has not fought at 147lbs since his second-round finish over Chris van Heerden in 2022.
