Conor Benn is expected to challenge for Ryan Garcia’s WBC welterweight world title later this year, looking to claim a major belt for the first time and put an early end to the Californian’s reign. Paulie Malignaggi has weighed in on how the fight might play out.
In February, Garcia returned after a defeat to Rolando Romero to enter his third consecutive title fight and finally get his hands on a belt, trumping Mario Barrios for the WBC welterweight world championship. In September, Garcia is expected to defend that belt against mandatory challenger Benn.
Speaking with Froch on Fighting, two-division champion turned analyst Malignaggi said that he has not been impressed with Benn’s recent performances, and doesn’t believe the Brit has earned his place on the world stage.
“If his last name wasn’t Benn, he wouldn’t be anywhere near the level that he is on. Does that mean that I don’t like the fact that he is here? No. He has taken advantage of the name, he has been promoted well, he has been moved well, I don’t think that he is a world-class fighter, though.
“His best performances were around the PED suspicion, he has not looked good since, he looked bad against the corpse that was Regis Prograis. I don’t think that he is that good, honestly.”
Benn failed two doping tests in 2022, cancelling a Chris Eubank Jr fight that was not rescheduled until 2025.
Malignaggi then went on to forecast a knockout win for Garcia in his the mandatory fight, before offering some words of advice to Benn.
“He gets knocked out [against Ryan Garcia]. I look at Conor like he is so determined to show everyone that he has power after the PED suspicions., he tries too hard to punch.
“You can see it in the last fight [vs. Prograis], he is putting too much weight on his jab, he is trying to show people, ‘No, I am really a natural puncher’ – mate, you weren’t and you are not a puncher.
“By trying so hard to be a puncher when you are not a puncher, you are going to look worse. Just snap your punches out, be that fighter and that is it. Be the boxer.”
Garcia has said that the fight will take place on September 12 in Las Vegas, however, there is yet to be an official announcement.
