CONOR BENN has revealed his ideal date for a showdown with Ryan Garcia.
The Destroyer, who stunningly left and Matchroom for Zuffa last week, is the mandatory challenger for Garcia’s WBC title.
Ryan Garcia became WBC welterweight champion with a one-sided beatdown of Mario BarriosCredit: SHUTTERSTOCK
Conor Benn is the mandatory challenger for Garcia’s WBC strapCredit: ALAMY
, 29, was ringside in Vegas last week to see the social media sensation claim the prestigious green and gold belt with a .
Garcia , instead calling out WBO and Ring magazine super-lightweight champ .
Benn, however, is hoping beyond hope a September showdown with King Ry comes to fruition.
He told Sky Sports: “I’d like to be out as soon as possible, so whenever the first date presents itself no doubt I’ll jump at the opportunity.
“All I need is a few weeks and I’m ready to go. If [Ryan Garcia] is September I’d like to get out two or three times this year.
“So we’ll just wait and see. Rolly Romero [the WBA welterweight titlist], Shakur [Stevenson], [Devin] Haney, I really want a piece of the American pie.”
Garcia was at his blisteringly fast best in his Sin City slaying of Barrios, in which he showcased the added wrinkle of a nasty right hand.
But Benn, who was last in action in a last November, said: “I can’t say I was impressed.
The Home of Boxing in 2026
There's a massive year of boxing ahead!
It’s shaping up to be a blockbuster year of action inside the boxing ring.
will make his return in April against Arslanbek Makhmudov, is closing in on a world title shot and Fabio Wardley will defend his newly won heavyweight crown.
Canelo Alvarez will be hoping to return after his defeat to Terence Crawford and heavyweight king Oleksandr Usyk will also need to defend his straps.
Derek Chisora will fight for the 50th and (perhaps) final time against Deontay Wilder, while Daniel Dubois is also on the comeback trail.
A whole bunch of British stars could also take a leap into superstardom, with the likes of , Hamzah Sheeraz and Adam Azim ready to join the very top of the sport.
February
- Sun 22 – Claressa Shields vs Franchon Crews-Dezurn – heavyweight unification – DAZN
- Sat 28 – Emanuel Navarrete vs Eduardo Nunez – super-featherweight unification – DAZN
March
- Sat 14 – Jazza Dickens vs Anthony Cacace – WBA super-featherweight title – DAZN
- Sat 28 – Moses Itauma vs Jermaine Franklin – DAZN
- Sat 28 – Sebastian Fundora vs Keith Thurman – Amazon Prime PPV
April
- Sat 4 – Derek Chisora vs Deontay Wilder – DAZN PPV
- Sat 11 – Tyson Fury vs Arslanbek Makhmudov – Netflix
- Sat 18 – Callum Smith vs David Morrell – DAZN
- Sat 18 – Manny Pacquiao vs Ruslan Provodnikov
- Sat 25 – Mike Tyson vs Floyd Mayweather
*If you click a link in this boxout, we will earn affiliate revenue.
He did what he needed to do with a guy who’s just coming off two draws, one-dimensional, slow.
“[Barrios] wasn’t really in the fight. I was impressed with Garcia’s engine though.
[And] I was impressed with the fact he’s managed to pull himself together and win a world title.”
Having been up close and personal for Garcia’s career-best performance, Benn has no doubt in his mind how a fight between them will go.
Benn insisted: “I am no Barrios and I think I’d give him hell in there. He’s there for the taking.
“I think my speed, my agility, my explosiveness, my unorthodox style and power would cause him a lot of problems.
“It would be an exciting fight for sure, I definitely don’t see that fight going to points by any measure.”



