Tony Bellew tells Conor Benn who he should face next after Ryan Garcia defeat

Tony Bellew has urged Conor Benn to face one man next as he calls it “madness” that ‘The Destroyer’ is even thinking about competing with the best at 168lbs.

The 29-year-old entered his first world title fight on Saturday, moving back down to 147lbs in an attempt to dethrone WBC champion Ryan Garcia.

Having not competed at welterweight in over four years, Benn documented his struggles throughout the build-up and said on multiple occasions that, in future, he would rather campaign at middle or super-middleweight.

Ultimately, though, it was the glaring skill disparity between him and Garcia that contributed to a second-round stoppage defeat at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena.

The difference in speed, too, was strikingly apparent as Garcia floored his man with a right hand before inspiring referee Thomas Taylor to draw an appropriate halt.

In that sense, their contest hardly progressed to a point where Benn’s performance suffered as a result of him making 147lbs, albeit with him claiming to have gained over 30lbs after the weigh-in.

It does seem that he is considering a move up to 168lbs, however, with former world champion Bellew explaining on DAZN that even competing with the best at 160lbs would be a step too far and that he should instead look to make the Chris Eubank Jr trilogy.

“It’s really hard because, at 168[lbs], could you imagine trying to put Conor Benn against [WBO champion] Hamzah Sheeraz?

“It’s just not viable; it’s just not realistic. Super-middleweights are big monsters and they come down to make weight. If 147[lbs] is not for you then do 154[lbs] tops. It’s madness [for him to fight at 160 or 168lbs].

“What 160[lb] fighter can he beat? If I’m Conor Benn, I’m heading towards the Eubank Jr trilogy. If I’m being honest, that’s the one that makes the most sense.”

Benn entered two middleweight encounters with Chris Eubank Jr last year, losing their first contest before winning a unanimous decision in November.