A high-profile clash could be on the horizon for Conor Benn, with potential showdowns lined up for next year against Ryan Garcia and Shakur Stevenson. The front-runner scenario sees Garcia stepping into the ring with WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios in a bout that could set up Benn as the next big US blockbuster opponent. Benn’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, spoke to Sky Sports about the drive fueling Benn: “Conor is obsessed with the WBC title because he grew up with that belt on his wall at home. His father earned that belt, and in his gym there’s a WBC belt too. It’s deeply personal to him.”
In the meantime, there are other notable developments. A potential pivot toward a rematch with Eubank Jr. has occurred, but Benn’s goal remains to return to welterweight and chase world-title glory at 147 pounds. After a recent victory in a middleweight rematch, Benn has moved to position himself as a top contender for the WBC title, which would place him squarely in the mix for a championship fight in 2026.
There’s no certainty that a Garcia-Barrios winner would automatically become Benn’s next opponent. Garcia’s own recent form includes a comeback defeat to Rolando Romero after serving a period of suspension, a fight that followed a drug-test-related setback that overturned his prior win over Devin Haney. Benn hasn’t fought at 147 pounds since 2022 due to the suspension, but his team believes a successful return to the welterweight limit is achievable with the right preparation.
Hearn reiterated the plan to drop back to 147 and chase a world title, noting the scientific feasibility of Benn making the weight and signaling that the path to a belt could materialize in 2026. He also identified Stevenson as a potential post-Lopez opponent, suggesting a UK summer showdown could be on the cards if the two sides square off later in the year. Stevenson, undefeated and a multi-division champ, has already indicated interest in facing Benn following a scheduled WBO super-lightweight title fight with Teofimo López in January.
Benn has become one of the sport’s most coveted names, drawing interest from fans and promoters alike. His camp believes the next bout could realistically be a world-title tilt, and discussions with major figures in boxing are pointing toward a blockbuster route that could captivate fans across the globe.
