Conor Benn came up short when challenging for the WBC welterweight title on Saturday and former undisputed light-welterweight champion Josh Taylor has now given his opinion on whether ‘The Destroyer’ can ever capture world honours.
Ryan Garcia made a first successful defence of the WBC title as he ran through Benn in just two rounds in Las Vegas, flooring the Briton with a prodigious right-hand and then stopping him on his feet.
Whilst Garcia now looks set for unifications after defeating his WBC mandatory challenger, fans are questioning where Benn can go from here and if he should remain at world level or drop down and attempt to get his hands on the British title.
In an interview with Seconds Out, Taylor admitted that the outcome of Benn’s world title bid was what he expected it to be, stating his belief that Benn is a domestic-level fighter.
“It was something that I kind of expected, really. I have said it for long enough and I have said it numerous times, I don’t think that Conor Benn is anywhere near world level.
“I know that I sound like I am being critical of him, but I am just saying what I think. I do think that he is domestic/European level at best.
“He is getting these fights and these opportunities because of the pull that he has got. He has got this commercial pull and he is getting opportunities off the back of that.”
‘The Tartan Tornado’ then went on to declare that he does not envisage Benn ever getting his hands on a world title, despite his fellow Briton being just 29 years old.
“I don’t think that he is any better than that [British/European level], I don’t think that he will win a world championship, but he has got massive appeal.”
Benn is set to move back up in weight following his first stoppage loss, with a big leap up to either middleweight or super-middleweight expected to be confirmed soon and possibly even a trilogy showdown with Chris Eubank Jr.
