Conor Benn challenges for world honours for the first time in his career when he faces WBC welterweight champion Ryan Garcia next month, and former undisputed super-lightweight ruler Josh Taylor has revealed his prediction for the fight.
Benn has not fought as a welterweight since April 2022, but ‘The Destroyer’ was controversially named as the WBC’s mandatory challenger in the 147lb division when he announced his intention to return to the weight at the beginning of the year.
As a result, when Garcia dethroned Mario Barrios, it seemed inevitable that Garcia-Benn would be next. Although, the Brit instead decided to sign with Zuffa Boxing and stop off on his way back down with a 150lb catchweight affair against Regis Prograis.
The fight took place on the Tyson Fury vs. Arslanbek Makhmudov undercard, where Benn underwhelmed against a visibly injured Prograis, unable to dispatch of the damaged American despite his frailties.
Speaking with Boxing News, Taylor admitted that Benn’s performance against Prograis has convinced him that Garcia will knock him out.
“It doesn’t excite me at all, really. It’s a big fight, it’s a big commercial fight, Ryan is huge commercially, so is Conor.
“Boxing ability-wise, I think that Ryan probably knocks him out, [presuming] everything is all good and that [with Garcia]. I just think Ryan is the better boxer; he is quicker, he is sharper, he has got more experience in the game.
“Conor has done well, he has improved a hell of a lot, he is quick, he is strong, he is bigger and stronger than Ryan, but going off that last performance [against Prograis], I don’t think that Ryan has got anything to worry about.
“I think that Ryan probably knocks him out, after that last performance.”
Fans don’t have to wait long to see the outcome as the fight takes place on Saturday, September 12, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
