If the Ryan fight falls through or he is forced into a stay-at-home fight against a dangerous but low-profile contender, someone like a Richardson Hitchins or a sharp young lion at 147), Benn may struggle to find the motivation.
Ryan Garica is the fight Benn is obsessed with. Garcia just won the WBC welterweight title from Mario Barrios in February, so he’s not just a big name anymore.
Garcia has teased an August date in Vegas, but he’s also eyeing a massive rematch with Devin Haney in September. Benn effectively fights for Garcia’s attention against the men he claims are his other options.
“I’m 29 years old. I’m in the prime of my career,” Benn said, calling the Zuffa deal a move designed to capitalize on that window. “That means more eyeballs. Just exciting fights, mega fights, all the big names.”
Benn is 29 and claims to be in his prime, but by only aiming for the absolute top level, he risks being frozen out. If Garcia and Haney reconcile in September, and Shakur takes another big fight, Benn could end up sitting on the sidelines for the rest of 2026.
“The big names are here in America as well. So for me it’s just a matter of coming here and giving the public the fights they want,” said Conor. “This is the most important thing for me in my career.”
“I’m not short of options. There’s a lot of fighters calling me out, big names calling me out,” Benn said. “If Ryan doesn’t want it, then there are plenty of fish out there.”
The comment of “enough fish” is classic Benn bravado, but it may be more of a coping mechanism than reality. If he doesn’t land Ryan Garcia, he’s in a very precarious spot.
If Garcia and Haney are busy, Benn’s “other fish” might turn out to be someone like Josh Kelly or Rolly Romero. While Rolly has a big personality, he is not the “mega-fight” that Benn promises his fans.
