Conor Benn is eyeing a “megafight” against Ryan Garcia after signing with new promoter Zuffa Boxing, but he has also revealed that he is open to a rematch with Chris Eubank Jr., this time at super middleweight.
Benn was previously promoted by Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing, but in an industry-shaking move he has joined new organization Zuffa, now run by UFC boss Dana White.
Asked what the move to Zuffa means for his career, Ben exclusively told Sky Sports: “My career is heading in the same direction. It’s a world title by the end of the year, and God willing, just a mega-fight. That’s the plan. Give the supporters, give the fans what they want. Come here, all the belts are here in America.”
“Whatever the people want, it will happen,” he added. “I am a servant of the people and I want to give my supporters the biggest and best fight possible.
“I know I have big plans to take the world by storm.”
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Highlights of the rematch between Conor Benn and Chris Eubank Jr. at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Photo provided by: DAZN
Garcia won the WBC welterweight world title with a dominant victory over Mario Barrios on Saturday. Ben now has his sights set on Garcia.
“Obviously I was watching the fight with Barrios. I’m a must-have No. 1 contender for the belt,” the British fighter said.
“I can’t say I’m impressed. He did what he had to do against a player who was just coming off two draws and was one-dimensional and slow. (Barrios) hadn’t played much. But I was impressed with Garcia’s engine. I was impressed with the fact that he managed to pull himself together and win the world title.”
Ben said: “I’m not Barrios, so I think I’m going to give him hell.”
“He’s there to catch you.
“I think my speed, agility, explosiveness, unconventional style and power will cause him a lot of problems.
“It’s definitely going to be an exciting fight, but no matter how you look at it, I don’t think it’s going to lead to points.”
It’s unclear when Garcia will be ready to fight next. If it’s not until September, Ben will want a replacement fight first.
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Conor Benn claims his ‘soul was stolen’ after soundly defeating Chris Eubank Jr. in rematch
“I want to get out as soon as possible, so when that first date comes around, I’m definitely going to jump at the opportunity,” he said. “All I need is a few weeks and I’m ready. If (Ryan Garcia) is in September, I’d like to be out a couple of times this year. So we’ll just have to wait and see.”
“Rory Romero (WBA welterweight titlist), Shakur (Stevenson), (Devin) Haney, I really want the American pie.”
It would be a great satisfaction for him to follow in the footsteps of his father, Nigel Benn, and win a world title in America. A championship is his biggest goal, even more so 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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Conor Benn’s hilarious reaction when asked about Chris Eubank Jr. and American rapper 50 Cent’s ring walk
Ben sees Pacquiao the same way he sees Mayweather: “Just a little older.
“He’s a legend, and I respect and admire him as a person and as a fighter who just gets older and loses.”
His “wild card” fight would be against YouTuber turned pro cruiserweight Jake Paul, who lasted six rounds against Anthony Joshua at heavyweight.
“Jake Paul, that’s going to be an epic fight! There’s so much I want to do and accomplish in boxing before that. A world title, a megafight, a Shakur megafight, a big Haney fight, a Garcia megafight,” Ben said.
Ben is open to a final three-division fight against rival Chris Eubank Jr. Benn moved up to middleweight last year and boxed Eubank twice at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, winning the first fight in a thrilling manner, but controlled the rematch and dropped Eubank twice before the end.
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Conor Benn and Chris Eubank Jr. react after the rematch at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Benn’s goal is welterweight, but he would be willing to move up to super middleweight at 168 pounds to give Eubank a third fight.
“The first fight for me wasn’t about who I am or what kind of fighter I am. Would I fight Eubank at a weight he’s comfortable with and no excuses? Yeah, I would,” Benn said.
“If you think about it, I would fight him at 168 pounds. I would do that, not for anything else but to beat him convincingly again, because I’m the better boxer. I just have a better ring IQ, I’m faster, more agile. I just punch harder. My endurance is better. I’m better than him in every area.”
“That’s the point I want to prove. Not against myself, because I know I beat him.”
He added, “It’s just a personal thing for me and Chris, and there’s always going to be something there. I respect Chris, I respect him.”
“You don’t have to like people you respect. I respect him because it’s hard to be in this game and it’s hard to be the son of a legend. But at the end of the day, we did it, we did it, we elevated the lives of kids, we’re established in the game, we have a big following.
“But the goal for me is still to win a world title.”
