Benn chops Garcia–Haney plans after mandatory boost

Conor Benn made headlines earlier today with the WBC confirming that he will be the mandatory challenger for whoever wins Ryan Garcia vs. WBC welterweight champion Marrios Barrios from their showdown on February 21, 2026.

Conor Benn jumps to a mandatory spot

Benn (24-1, 14 KOs) will be a disruptor here, as Ryan (24-2, 20 KOs) hopes to meet Devin Haney next if he gets his hands on the WBC belt from Barrios (29-2-2, 18 KOs) in February.

Step aside conversation is already brewing

Turki Alalshikh may have to step in to persuade Benn to step aside so the Garcia-Haney rematch can happen if Ryan prevails. Getting the already wealthy Conor Benn to step aside could take a small fortune. He wants that WBC belt and has an excellent chance to get it from the Garcia-Barrios winner.

Earlier today, on Wednesday, December 3, the WBC revealed at their meeting in Bangkok, Thailand, that Conor Benn was made the #1 mandatory for the winner of the Barrios vs. Garcia fight.

The promotion of Benn has drawn backlash from fans, who feel he doesn’t deserve to be moved into the No. 1 mandatory slot at 147 since he hasn’t fought in the welterweight division since 2022. However, he looked like pure gold in his last fight, defeating middleweight Chris Eubank Jr. defeated by a 12-1 unanimous decision in London in November.

Pacquiao and Cissokho? Hard pace

If not Benn, the alternatives ranked above him are dismal, with these three:

1. Manny Pacquiao
2. Souleymane Cissokho
3. Raul Curiel

Why WBC chose Benn over the field

For fans and the WBC, who would you rather have the Ryan Garcia vs. Want Mario Barrios Winner Fight Next? One of those three or Conor Benn? It’s understandable why the WBC chose to make Benn the mandatory challenger, as he brings value.

“I just got the news that I was made No. 1 in the WBC rankings, mandatory for the WBC title,” Benn said. X. “I’ll be watching Barrios vs. Garcia closely. I want the winner early next year. That WBC world title is mine. I’ll come for that belt, and Britain will have a new world champion. Let’s get it.”