Despite Conor Benn’s in-ring antics with Shakur Stevenson it looks as though Matchroom have other plans for him.
Though having not fought at 147lbs since 2022, Benn is ranked highly with the WBC and IBF at welterweight and is seeking a title shot. His two contests with Chris Eubank Jnr in 2025 up at middleweight, the first a unanimous decision loss in April followed by a virtual shutout victory in September, were followed by Benn earning mandatory status with the WBC two divisions south. That belt is due to be contested on February 21 in Las Vegas, Nevada, between champion Mario Barrios and Ryan Garcia. Benn is set to face the winner but may look to fight before then. Benn’s promoter, Matchroom Boxing CEO Frank Smith, revealed that a WBA title shot against Rolando “Rolly” Romero could also be an option for Benn who is eager to get in the ring.
“Conor Benn is in a great position,” Smith told BoxingScene. “Conor is alongside Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua – they’re obviously the biggest names in British boxing right now – Conor is the next in line PPV star in the sport. He is focussed on the 147lb titles, obviously Mario Barrios-Ryan Garcia on February 21 – that’s the fight he wants, he’s mandatory for the WBC. If that doesn't happen then we will make a Rolly Romero fight for the WBA title. Romero has got a mandatory against Shakhram Giyasov, another fighter we promote, so we’ve got to get a deal so that everyone is happy, but Conor is in a great place.”
Uzbekistan’s Shakhram Giyasov has been waiting for his shot at the WBA welterweight title for what seems like an eternity. Giyasov allowed then-champion Eimantas Stanionis to face IBF titleholder and promotional stablemate Jaron “Boots” Ennis to contest a unification last April. Following Ennis’ move up to 154lbs, the WBA ‘regular’ beltholder Romero was promoted to full-champion by the WBA.
Since being ordered to fight Giyasov, Romero has made it clear that he has no plans to take on the low-profile Uzbek, even telling BoxingScene in December that “he doesn’t know [Giyasov] is”. So how likely is Giyasov to agree to another step-a-side deal after stating in a letter to the WBA in November that he “vehemently objects to the granting of any special permit that would excuse Romero from satisfying his mandatory obligation”?
“Like I say, where we represent [Giyasov], obviously we're looking at what the best options are for him,” said Smith. “I spoke to Vadim [Kornilov, Giyasov’s manager] a few days ago. Shakhram wants to win the world title. 100 per cent he wants to win the world title, but he's obviously, at the same time, he's sensible. So that's something we will talk through and I think we'll be able to make the fight between Conor Benn and Rolly Romero, if that's the route we go down, and then make sure Shakhram gets his opportunity. He's obviously been very sensible throughout, he allowed the ‘Boots’ Ennis-Stanionis [WBA/IBF unification fight] to go ahead. He knows the way the sport works of course, but he will get a shot.”
