Chris Algieri, a former foe of Conor Benn and a qualified nutritionist, believes images released of Benn ahead of his WBC welterweight title fight with Ryan Garcia are concerning.

Benn, 25-1 (14 KOs), will take on Garcia, 25-2 (20 KOs), this Saturday at T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, in his first contest at 147lbs since his second round finish of Chris van Heerden in April 2022. In July and September that year, Benn would test positive for banned substance clomifene ahead of a scheduled contest with Chris Eubank Jnr in October 2022.

Benn returned to the ring, in America, 17 months later at 154lbs against Rodolfo Orozco, winning a 10-round decision. Another bout in the US, a 12-round points win over Peter Dobson when both weighed just over 150lbs, followed in 2024

Benn would then go on to take on Eubank Jnr in two 2025 contests at 160lbs, losing the first and winning the rematch before facing Regis Prograis at a 150lbs catchweight in April of this year. Benn came under fire for his performance in his unanimous decision win over Prograis and even then there were concerns over him making the welterweight limit again.

Last week, images of Benn were released ahead of his challenge to Garcia, the WBC welterweight beltholder. Benn looked drawn in the face and body. Algieri, who faced Benn in 2021 five months prior to him beating van Heerden, shared his thoughts on the “worrisome” images.

“I've been saying this for weeks,” Algieri told BoxingScene, “Conor Benn always trains really hard. We've seen that throughout his career. He was training hard two months ago for this and he looked a little bit drawn then. Now it's starting to get to that point. It's still two weeks to go, and we're seeing pictures like that. So it is worrisome.”

Benn has since announced that this will be his last fight at welterweight, even teasing a move up to 160 or 168lbs.

“When you've got a guy who's three, four weeks out saying, ‘Oh, this is my last time fighting at this weight class,’ that tells you a lot,” said Algieri.

“Eddie Hearn made such a great point. I think it was before the Prograis fight. He goes, ‘I think Conor should just fight at 160.’ It seemed like a crazy statement. Then you're like, actually the best he's ever looked was at 160.

Obviously, Eubank was depleted, but still, even the way that [Benn] was performing, he looked better there than he has at any other time. And now to get himself back down, he has an opportunity for a title and a huge, huge payday. But that might come around to bite him in the ass at the end of the day because the way he's looking... it's worrisome.”

So how does Algieri think Benn’s clear struggles making the welterweight limit will impact his contest with Garcia?

“I mean, even without the weight, I thought Ryan was going to get him,” he said. “People forget Ryan is not a YouTuber-turned-boxer. He's actually a really, really good amateur with a big pedigree and he's been fighting for a very long time. His fast switch ability to pull the trigger when he sees openings, his mind just reacts. We saw that against Devin Haney."

Garcia, however, saw that April 2024 victory over Haney changed to a no-contest when he failed two tests on the eve and day of the bout.

In his most recent bout he dominated Mario Barrios to win his title.

“When he’s switched on, he is really dangerous," Algieri continued about Garcia.

"He's big. He's long. He's strong. And he's a pure counterpuncher. He's carried the power quite well. He's not the 'ice you' knockout puncher like he was at 130lbs and 135lbs but obviously he's still got some crack. We saw it in the Haney fight. We saw it in the Barrios fight. But, yeah, I mean, just going on just boxing skills and historically, even before the weight, I got Ryan [winning].”