Tony Bellew picks a winner in Ryan Garcia vs Conor Benn: “That version is not good enough”

In September, Ryan Garcia and Conor Benn collide in one of the biggest fights of the year, and former WBC cruiserweight world champion Tony Bellew has offered his thoughts on the fight.

Benn has not boxed at welterweight since his failed drugs test in October 2022 and he is also yet to register a stoppage win in the five fights above 147lbs that have followed. As a result, he has been keen to return to his natural division, hoping he can rediscover his knockout power.

After much speculation, it has finally been announced that Garcia and Benn will meet, as ‘King Ry’ seeks a first defence of the WBC welterweight title, since getting his hands on the belt with a win over Mario Barrios back in February.

Speaking on the ‘Fight Your Corner’ Podcast, Bellew looked ahead to the fight and admitted that the outcome could depend on how focused Garcia is and which version of the champion turns up.

“With Garcia, it’s the left-hook that is the real power shot with him. My only issue with this fight is that you don’t know which Ryan Garcia is going to turn up. 

“If the Ryan that got in with Rolly Romero turns up, that is going to lose, that is not going to be enough. I rate Rolly, as well, Rolly is a good fighter but is Ryan interested? Is he bothered? 

“Mentally, I think that Ryan is all over the place and mentally, I think that Conor Benn is so strong. To get through what he went through for all them years, mentally, he is so, so strong.”

Despite those comments, Bellew maintained that, in his eyes, Garcia remains ‘an overwhelming favourite’ due to his speed and trademark left-hook.

“Garcia is the favourite and he is the overwhelming favourite because of the qualities and the fundamentals that he has; lightning speed and a vicious left-hook.”

Garcia-Benn takes place on Saturday, September 12, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.