Gareth A. Davies questions Conor Benn at 147

“Conor Benn hasn’t fought 147 pounds flat in the last four years,” British journalist Davies told talkSport Boxing. “His last fight was a 150-pound catchweight against Regis Prograis. He hadn’t hit 147 in four years.”

“Regis Prograis is a slick, slick southpaw at the tail end of his career on the way down right now. Even though Conor Benn won handily, he didn’t look full of vim and power. The pull is there, but he didn’t look like the wrecking ball that fought Chris Eubank Jr. in the second fight at middleweight.”

Davies said Benn still brings aggression and pressure, but questioned whether the destructive version that scored a string of knockouts before his 2022 suspension saga still exists.

“But when was the last time you saw it?” Gareth said. “He had two attempts at 154, and he didn’t look amazing. He went up to 160, lost one, won one. The second one he won, it was a very calculated performance.”

“Now he’s back up to 150, which is a lot. And he’s 29 now. We think of him as a 24-year-old, right? He’s 29 now.”

Davies believes the weight issue could become a serious problem against Garcia, who remains one of the biggest punchers in the welterweight division with his left hook.

“If he really struggled with the weight, he’s going to struggle against Garcia, who is a massive puncher at welterweight with both left and right hooks, especially that left hook,” Davies said.

“It’s a dangerous fight for him. I think it will deliver all the way to the fight, but I’m afraid I think he’ll get knocked out by Ryan Garcia unless he knocks Garcia out himself.”