LONDON — Conor Benn has addressed his second-round stoppage loss to WBC welterweight world champion Ryan Garcia, identifying significant difficulties in making the 147lb weight limit as the primary factor behind his performance. The defeat, which occurred last month, saw Garcia floor the Brit with a powerful right hand before referee Thomas Taylor intervened to secure the champion's first successful title defence.
Reflecting on the result in an interview with Seconds Out, Benn dismissed claims that he was overmatched at world level, instead focusing on the physical toll of his weight cut. “I can’t fight at the weight, I can’t make the weight,” Benn admitted. Regarding the nature of the defeat, he added: “If you go swimming, you get wet, you pay the price. No problem, you bounce back. It’s life, it happens.”
Benn has now confirmed his intention to campaign at middleweight or super-middleweight for future bouts. His manager, Keith Connolly, has outlined a tentative strategy that involves a return to winning ways at middleweight before potentially revisiting a long-discussed rivalry with Chris Eubank Jr. at 168lbs. Benn is expected to take a period of rest following a high-profile two-year stretch that featured four significant contests.