Promoter Eddie Hearn predicts Ryan Garcia will defeat Conor Benn in their September 12 title fight. Hearn questions Benn’s ability to make the 147-pound limit effectively, suggesting the weight cut will diminish both his power and his durability against a world-class puncher.
With the welterweight championship bout officially set for Las Vegas, the Matchroom promoter outlined his concerns for Benn, his former fighter. The core of his argument is the weight. Hearn stated, “It’s an exciting fight for boxing. I don’t like Conor at 147[lbs]; I don’t believe he should be fighting down there.” He pointed to Benn’s recent history of competing well above the welterweight limit as primary evidence for his skepticism. Benn has not fought at 147lbs since 2022, and his most recent bouts took place at heavier weights.
Hearn referenced those performances to support his case. “He had those two fights with Eubank at 160[lbs]. I’m not saying he’s a middleweight, [but then] he fought Regis Prograis at 150[lbs]. He looked terrible in that fight,” Hearn explained. That history suggests a difficult and potentially draining return to a lower division will be a significant factor.
The physical toll of making welterweight is what Hearn believes will be Benn’s undoing against a champion like Garcia. He predicts a severe impact on Benn’s key attributes inside the ring. “[Making 147lbs should be] brutal for him now. He trains so hard, but I don’t think he has power down there. I don’t think he’ll have the chin down there.”
In contrast, Hearn holds no such reservations about Garcia, who holds the WBC belt and is a proven operator at the weight. Giving his final assessment of the matchup, he said: “And Ryan’s a world-class fighter. He’s very sharp and is a big puncher. But it’ll be fun because Conor’s got big balls – he’ll have a right go.” For Benn, the fight is a high-stakes attempt to prove his world-level credentials after leaving Matchroom for Zuffa Boxing. A loss would validate his former promoter’s public doubts about his career path.
