Conor Benn has gone on record saying 2026 is the year he takes the WBC welterweight belt. He recently put the word out on social media without a date or opponent on the calendar. That’s a long reach for a fighter who has stayed away from the 147-pound limit for the past four years. Regardless, the WBC moved him into the top spot last month. That choice got a lot of people talking about how the rankings actually work. Many fans see the influence of his father in the decision.
Benn spent his last night under the lights in London and Chris Eubank Jr. beat in November. They fought at middleweight. Benn had the benefit of a rehydration clause in that contract. Eubank was thirty-six and looked the part over twelve rounds. Winning that battle kept Benn in the conversation for bigger things. The talk of nepotism follows him because of what his father achieved with that same green belt.
The reality
Mario Barrios will defend against Ryan Garcia on February 21st. Benn wants the winner of that one. He is waiting for the WBC to make it official with a mandatory order. He mentioned names like Shakur Stevenson and Devin Haney to keep his name in the mix. These fights remain hypothetical until someone signs a check. Benn will find the resistance much greater against natural welterweights who have spent their careers at the extremes. His timing will likely fade if he tries to jump right into a championship pace at 147.
Click here to subscribe to our FREE newsletter
Related Boxing News:
Last updated on 01/05/2026
