Conor Benn targets upset against Ryan Garcia in WBC title fight
Conor Benn admitted he must be “not right in the head” after completing a gruelling 34lb weight cut for his WBC world title fight against Ryan Garcia, reports BritPanorama.
The 29-year-old returned to the welterweight division in Las Vegas after contesting two lucrative middleweight bouts with Chris Eubank Jr at 160lb. Benn revealed he had been close to 180lb before beginning the process to reach the 147lb limit. He stepped on the scales at 146lb, while Garcia weighed 145lb shortly afterwards.
Despite his privileged upbringing as the son of British boxing legend Nigel Benn, the Essex fighter insisted doubts over his merit in the sport have driven him throughout his career. “I don’t have to box,” Benn said. “I was raised in a mansion and went to private school. Do I have to box? No.”
He added, “It isn’t a rags-to-riches story. There’s been no poverty or hardship. But everyone writing me off because of my dad lit the fire in me and fuelled it. It’s not good fuel, it’s not nice. But I have exceeded everything that I thought I could do and where I could go.”
Benn, who entered the professional ranks with limited amateur experience, rapidly became a familiar name thanks to his father’s legacy. His career has divided British boxing fans; he has improved significantly under trainer Tony Sims but has yet to secure domestic titles. He was embroiled in a lengthy doping case related to two findings for clomifene, which was eventually resolved in his favour. His encounters with Eubank Jr, yielding mixed results, nevertheless transformed Benn into a multimillionaire and paved the way for his shot against Garcia.
As the unbeaten American, Garcia is the bookmakers’ favourite, but Benn believes public perception has played an essential role in his career. “The pressure is on Ryan,” he stated, underscoring the challenges he has faced despite his upbringing. “It has not been easy getting here; if I had predicted all of this at 19, I would have been put in a straight jacket.”
Garcia attempted to unsettle his opponent by referencing past controversies, including Benn’s doping saga, during a press encounter where he ate a hard-boiled egg on stage. “He is very familiar with eggs, so I thought I would eat some today,” Garcia remarked, hinting at industry speculation surrounding Benn.
Benn, however, remains laser-focused on a potential upset, determined to bring home Garcia’s WBC belt. “I am here to take the belt home,” he declared, emphasising his desire to entertain fans and provide value for money in this high-stakes match.
As the night approaches, one can’t help but remember that beneath the bravado and headline-making antics, it’s the squared circle that will ultimately determine their legacies. Whether it’s the underdog story or the weight of expectation that prevails, boxing remains an unpredictable theatre where every punch counts.
