Conor Benn will target a “mega-fight” with Ryan Garcia after signing with new promoter Zuffa Boxing, but also revealed he is open to another bout with Chris Eubank Jr, this time up at super-middleweight.
Previously Benn had been promoted by Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing but in an industry-shaking move has now joined Zuffa, the new entity run by UFC boss Dana White.
Speaking exclusively to Sky Sports from Las Vegas, Benn said: “Career’s heading in the same direction which is world title by the end of the year, God willing, and just mega-fights. That’s the plan. Give the supporters, the fans what they want. Come over here, all the belts are over here in America.
“Whatever the public want it to be it will be,” he added. “I’m a servant of the public and I want to give the supporters the biggest and the best fights possible.
“I know we’ve got big plans for me to take the world by storm.”
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Highlights from the rematch between Conor Benn and Chris Eubank Jr at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Pictures courtesy of DAZN
Garcia secured a dominant victory over Mario Barrios to win the WBC welterweight world title on Saturday. Benn now wants his shot at Garcia.
“Obviously I watched the fight with Barrios, I’m the No 1 contender mandatory for the belt,” the Briton said.
“I can’t say I was impressed. 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, I was impressed with the fact he’s managed to pull himself together and win a world title.”
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.”
It’s unclear when Garcia will be ready to fight next. If it’s not until September, Benn would want an alternative bout first.
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After comprehensively beating Chris Eubank Jr in their rematch, Conor Benn claims he ‘took his soul’
“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,” he said. “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.”
It would be richly satisfying for him to follow his father Nigel Benn’s footsteps and win a world title in America. A championship is his primary goal, rather than fighting welterweight legends like Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather who are still active in the sport in their late 40s.
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Connor Benn’s hilarious reaction when asked about Chris Eubank Jr’s ring walk with American rapper 50 Cent
Benn views Pacquiao like he does Mayweather: “Just a bit old.
“He’s a legend and I respect and admire him as a man, as a fighter to let him lose to via just being old.”
A “wild card” fight for him would be Jake Paul, the YouTuber turned professional cruiserweight who lasted six rounds with Anthony Joshua at heavyweight.
“Jake Paul that would be an out there fight! I’ve got plenty of things I want to do and achieve in boxing before that, like the world title, like mega-fights, Shakur mega-fight, Haney big fight, Garcia mega-fight,” Benn said.
He would be open to an eventual trilogy fight with his rival Chris Eubank Jr. Benn moved up to middleweight to box Eubank twice at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last year, losing a thriller in the first contest but controlling the rematch, in which he dropped Eubank twice before the end.
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Conor Benn and Chris Eubank Jr react after their rematch at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
While Benn’s targets are at welterweight, he would be willing to go up to super-middleweight, 168lbs, to give Eubank a third fight.
“The first fight for me wasn’t who I am or the sort of fighter I am. Would I fight Eubank at a weight that he’s comfortable at and has no excuses? Yeah, I would,” Benn said.
“Thinking about it, I would fight him at 168lbs. I would. Not for anything else but to beat him so convincingly again. Because I’m just a better boxer. I have better ring IQ, I’m just faster, more agile. I just punch harder. I have better endurance. Every sector I’m better than him.
“That would be a point I want to prove. Not to myself, because I know I beat him.”
He added: “It’s just something personal with me and Chris and there will always be something there. I respect Chris, I respect him.
“You don’t have to like someone you respect. I respect him because being in this game is hard and also being a legend’s son is hard. But ultimately we did it, we do it, we’ve set our kids’ lives up, we are established in the game and we have a big following.
“But for me, my goal is still to get the world title.”