Conor Benn says he is targeting “big American names” as he looks to make his next move having vanquished rival Chris Eubank.
Benn told DAZN his primary aim would be Mario Barrios – the WBC champion – or Ryan Garcia. Garcia has said he will fight Barrios early in 2026, though Benn said he’d heard it was not a done deal.
“Garcia-Barrios, Cinco De Mayo in Vegas. That is the dream,” said Benn. “If we can make that happen, that’s what I want next. If not, then we can go for Rolly [Romero], if not, we can keep it for [Devin] Haney.”
Then, speaking in a media huddle, Benn reiterated his desire was to win the WBC title.
“For me that belt is the one that I want, no doubt it’s the one I’m gonna strive to get,” he said.
That meant that his focus is not on fellow Matchroom fighter Lewis Crocker, the Irishman who holds the IBF title at welterweight.
“I’m not really interested. There’s bigger fish to fry in my opinion. Although he’s IBF, he not really a name that’s on my radar, for me, the 10lbs rehydration… I’d rather win the WBC. For me, that’s my main goal, or a big American name, and maybe come over here [Saudi Arabia] and fight the likes of Rollys, Garcia, Barrios…”
Asked whether he would struggle to make 147lbs again for the first time in several years having twice boxed at 160lbs, Benn said: “It was more of a concern me jumping up to 160 that was more of a concern than me going back to 147.
“You have science, I have a chef, I have a performance coach, you have the technology today so we can safely say I’ll be able to make 147 without… it ain’t going to be pleasant but without causing my body any harm…. I’ll make sure I do it properly, and if the science says I can get my weight down, I’ll get my weight down… I want a big American name. That’s something that my dad done, that’s something I definitely want to do."
