Conor Benn has made it clear that a showdown with WBC welterweight champion Ryan Garcia sits at the very top of his agenda, but he also hinted that a host of other high‑profile fighters are eagerly knocking on his door, hoping to secure a match. The British pugilist recently inked a multi‑year, multi‑fight contract with Zuffa Boxing, a deal that followed his impressive debut for the promotion when he out‑pointed Regis Prograis on the undercard of the Tyson Fury event at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last Saturday. Benn now holds the mandatory challenger slot for Garcia’s WBC title, yet he insists his options extend far beyond that single fight. "Of course, it’s the priority to get that Garcia fight done, but I’m not short of options," he told Sky Sports.
"There are a lot of fighters calling me out, big names calling me out. God willing, we get the Garcia fight done for the title. I’m in the No.
1 position for that belt and I’ve worked extremely hard to get to that position. If Ryan doesn’t want it, there are plenty of fish out there." The British star’s confidence is bolstered by a string of recent headlines that showcase the bustling activity in the boxing world. Dave Allen knocked out Jonny Fisher in a rematch, Daniel Dubois is being linked to potential bouts with Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk after his February IBF heavyweight title defence, and the much‑anticipated press conference between Eubank and Benn is set to stream live in Manchester.
Meanwhile, Adam Azim described his clash with Ohara Davies as his toughest test to date, and Anthony Joshua emphasized his need for a victory over Dubois to cement his claim to the IBF heavyweight crown. Dubois, for his part, warned unified champion Oleksandr Usyk that there is "definitely unfinished business" between them.
Benn, who avenged his sole professional loss with a rematch victory over Chris Eubank Jr. at middleweight last November, admitted he finds the sudden surge of challenges amusing.
"Do you know what is funny? After the weekend, you have all the fighters calling me out, begging me for the fight," he said. "It just goes to show their character because no‑one was calling me out after the second Eubank fight; everyone went radio silent.
They have seen me drop to 150 lb and go the distance, and now they want to hype me up and call me out. Maybe it’s a blessing that I went to points and ten rounds with Regis." He also highlighted the unique circumstances surrounding his Prograis bout: it was his first fight back at 150 lb in four years and he took the contest on just six weeks’ notice.
"Not many people can say they will fight a two‑time former world champion as a run‑out, win almost every round, and drop it down to 149 lb," Benn noted. "For me, it’s a matter of being disciplined, staying in the gym and being ready to go in six or seven weeks. If Ryan wants it, he can have it – he can have it tomorrow if he wants it. But that is news to me about negotiations for a summer fight." Zuffa Boxing’s chief executive, Dana White, expressed enthusiasm for a potential Benn‑Garcia clash, describing it as the kind of "fun" fight fans would love to see.
Speaking to Sky Sports, White said, "All the guys that have signed with us – we ask what you’ve dreamed about, what you want to do, what the plans are for your career. We like to hear all those things.
Obviously, I’m about making the biggest fights you can possibly make. All these kids that are fighting with us see it the same way." The promotion has also recently added former WBO cruiserweight champion Chris Billam‑Smith to its roster, and White hinted that more British talent will be signed in the coming weeks.
"Let me put it to you this way: I just did a big deal with Sky and we are going to be bringing you big fights to the UK," he said. "So yes, I am looking for lots of UK talent. Not just the big names that you all know. I am looking for young up‑and‑coming guys, too, that we think have the potential to be world champions." In summary, while Benn’s immediate focus remains on securing the coveted bout with Ryan Garcia for the WBC welterweight crown, he is far from being without alternatives.
The boxing landscape is buzzing with potential match‑ups, and the British fighter’s recent performances, disciplined preparation, and willingness to step into the ring on short notice have positioned him as a desirable opponent for many of the sport’s elite. Whether Garcia ultimately accepts the challenge or Benn pivots to another marquee opponent, the next few months promise to deliver compelling narratives and high‑stakes fights for boxing enthusiasts worldwide.