Conor Benn’s return to the welterweight division is imminent and many fans are debating whether he has done enough to warrant a title shot. Although, whilst one reigning 147lb champion believes that Benn is indeed world-class, he also maintains that he would knock ‘The Destroyer’ out.
Benn has not fought at welterweight since 2022, with a failed drugs test derailing his plans to rise up the 147lb rankings before returning to fight at both super-welterweight and middleweight.
In the middleweight division, he twice fought fierce rival Chris Eubank Jr during 2025, losing his undefeated record in their initial encounter but bouncing back to avenge that solitary career defeat just seven months later.
Since then, Benn has revealed a return to his natural weight class and he has been installed as the WBC’s mandatory challenger in the welterweight division, poised to challenge the victor of Mario Barrios vs. Ryan Garcia for the WBC title later in the year.
Speaking with talkSPORT, IBF welterweight ruler Lewis Crocker admitted that Benn has the skills to dethrone two of the reigning champions at the weight, but questioned whether the instant installation as mandatory challenger was truly merited.
“Conor works hard, so for me to say he doesn’t deserve a world title shot [wouldn’t be fair]. I don’t know if he should have been mandatory straight away because he hasn’t fought at 147lbs in three years.
“So I think that a world title shot straight off the bat without having at least one fight back at welterweight, maybe that is not right but I wouldn’t put him out of world title contention.
“I think that he could definitely beat Barrios, the [WBC] champion. I think he could be Rolly [Romero, WBA champion], as well, he has a lot of power.”
However, when quizzed on how he would fair against Benn, the Ulsterman dismissed the possibility of that contest heading to the judges, believing that he would get the victory inside of the distance.
“I have always got to back myself, obviously. Me against Conor Benn I think is just fireworks from the get-go, I don’t think that is going the distance.”
Benn has refused to target Crocker due to the IBF’s 10-pound rehydration clause, but those rules would not be in place for a unification contest, should Benn first get his hands on alternate title.
Still, before Crocker can focus too much on Benn, he must first defend his belt Down Under, as he gears up to face Liam Paro on away soil in Australia.
