Boxing
Garcia vs. Benn - Hearn provides his verdict on blockbuster clash featuring the fighter he promoted for ten years
Garcia vs Benn live on DAZN PPV - Saturday
Eddie Hearn has delivered his verdict on this weekend’s intriguing welterweight battle in Las Vegas, where Ryan Garcia defends his WBC welterweight belt against Conor Benn .
The Brit travels to America for his first crack at a world title after ten years as a professional, with Hearn by his side for the majority of that journey.
In recent years, Hearn had to put his own reputation on the line as he defended Benn following his failed drugs test in 2022, but their relationship came to a bitter end earlier this year when Benn signed for Zuffa Boxing .
Since then, Hearn has revealed several issues regarding his time as Benn’s promoter, but with boxing being a sport where fighters look after themselves, it should come as no surprise that Benn took a better deal when it was offered to him.
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This weekend, Benn has the opportunity to justify the decision to leave Hearn with victory over Garcia set to make him one of the biggest names in the sport.
Benn is returning to 147lbs for the first time in four years following a memorable spell at middleweight, where he lost to Chris Eubank Jr. before gaining revenge in an immediate rematch, and making that weight is a huge factor when Hearn offers his verdict on the fight.
I don't think he has power
“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,” said Hearn when speaking to KO Artist Sports.
“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.
“[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.
“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.”
Watch Garcia vs. Benn on DAZN
Britian's Conor Benn looks to become a world champion for the first time against US superstar Ryan Garcia on Saturday, September 12.
Watch the fight exclusively in the UK & Ireland and other territories (check for availability) on DAZN PPV or included in our Ultimate Tier subscription.
