Conor Benn could fight Ryan Garcia in a high-profile fight next year.
Garcia is likely to fight WBC light heavyweight champion Mario Barry next, and the winner will be a potential opponent for Ben in a big American clash.
Said Eddie Hearn, Benn’s promoter Ski Sports: “Connor is obsessed with the WBC title because he grew up with that belt on the wall in his house. His father won that belt. He has a WBC belt in his gym. It’s something that’s very personal to him.
“There’s a big fight that looks like it’s going to happen between Ryan Garcia and Mario Barrios, and His Excellency (Turki Alalshik) told me and Conor in Riyadh that he likes the idea of Ryan Garcia, if he wins that fight, against Conor Benn on Cinco de Mayo potentially in Las Vegas.
“It would be a huge event. We would only sell it from Brits traveling alone.”
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Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn discuss whether there could be a trilogy feud between the two
After winning last month’s middleweight rematch with Chris Eubank Jr., Benn’s intention is to return to welterweight. The WBC has made him their No. 1 contender, which leaves him in a good position to challenge for that title at 147 pounds.
There is no guarantee that Garcia will beat Barrios if that fight happens. The American lost his comeback bout to Rolando Romero earlier this year, a contest that came after Garcia served a one-year ban for failing a drug test, an incident that saw his victory over Devin Hani overturned and ruled a no-contest.
Benn hasn’t made the welterweight mark since 2022, before his suspension for an anti-doping violation. When he was licensed to box in Great Britain, he fought Eubank Jr twice at middleweight, losing the first fight but winning the second.
His consistent performance in the Eubank rematch elevated his position as a potential world title contender and his team is confident he can make a successful return to welterweight.
“The plan now is to go back to 147 pounds. The science says he can do it. It’s not going to be easy. Now that process is going on to get him down to championship weight and try to win the world championship in 2026,” Hearn said.
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Conor Benn and Chris Eubank Jr react after the second leg at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
A shot at the VBC belt isn’t his only option. Shakur Stevenson, the undefeated three-weight world champion who will challenge Teofimo Lopez for the WBO super-lightweight title in January, could be a possible opponent later in 2026.
“Shakur has made it clear to Conor Benn that he wants to fight Teofim (Lopez) and then Conor Benn. It’s also a fight that could happen in the UK in the summer,” Hearn said.
“Right now, Conor Benn is probably one of the most called out fighters in the world. To be fair, he calls out everyone else, but it doesn’t matter if it’s Devin Haynie, Rolly Romero, Lewis Crocker (IBF 147lb champion), Shakur Stevenson, all these guys are calling out Conor Benn.”
“So he’s in a great position. I believe the next fight will be for the world championship.”