Former undisputed champion says Conor Benn is not even British level ahead of Garcia title fight

Conor Benn has been accused of having done very little to deserve his WBC title shot against Ryan Garcia, who many feel is a level or two above the Brit.

Regardless, the two welterweights will collide for Garcia’s world title on September 12, headlining an event at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena.

The champion claimed his strap by dethroning Mario Barrios, who many considered one of the sport’s weaker titleholders, with a unanimous decision victory in February.

This was the first time Garcia felt what it was like to have his hand raised since April 2024, when he initially claimed a majority decision triumph over Devin Haney, only for the result to be ruled a no-contest after he tested positive for banned substance ostarine.

Benn, too, has previously failed two doping tests – both for clomifene in October 2022 – but has since found himself in two high-profile middleweight encounters with Chris Eubank Jr.

Their first fight, in April 2025, saw him suffer a unanimous decision defeat, before exacting his revenge by the same verdict in their November rematch.

Most recently, though, the 29-year-old outpointed a faded and since-retired Regis Prograis in April, emerging victorious at a catchweight of 150lbs.

Based on that performance, former undisputed super-lightweight champion Josh Taylor has told Fight Your Corner that he struggles to see Benn defeating British champion Conah Walker, let alone Garcia.

“Yeah [I stand by that he’s not British level.] I think there’s guys in the UK that would beat Conor Benn. I think Conah Walker would beat him.

“In that second Eubank fight, I thought [Benn] was very good. But then I watched him against Prograis and thought he was terrible.

“I just don’t think he’s on [Garcia’s] level. I don’t think he merits that fight.”

Not only is Benn yet to face a world-class fighter in his prime but, crucially, ‘The Destroyer’ has not fought at 147lbs since his second-round finish over Chris van Heerden in 2022.