Conor Benn has made it clear that securing a bout with WBC welterweight champion Ryan Garcia remains his primary objective, but he also emphasized that a host of other high‑profile opponents are already knocking on his door, eager for a showdown. Benn recently inked a multi‑year, multi‑fight agreement with Zuffa Boxing, a deal that followed his impressive debut for the promotion when he outboxed Regis Prograis on the undercard of the Tyson Fury event at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last Saturday. As the mandatory challenger for Garcia’s title, Benn is positioned at the very top of the contender ladder. Yet, according to the British star, his options extend far beyond a single fight.
"Of course, the Garcia fight is the priority, but I’m not short of choices," Benn 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 am in the No. 1 position for that belt and I have worked extremely hard to get to that position. If Ryan doesn’t want it, there are plenty of fish out there." The comments came amid a flurry of boxing news, including Dave Allen’s knockout of Jonny Fisher in a rematch, Daniel Dubois’s potential clashes with Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk after his February IBF heavyweight title defence, and a press conference showdown between Eubank and Benn in Manchester. Meanwhile, rising prospect Adam Azim praised his recent test against Ohara Davies, and Anthony Joshua urged Dubois to secure a victory to cement his claim to the IBF heavyweight crown.
Dubois also warned unified champion Usyk that “there is definitely unfinished business.” Benn, who avenged his sole professional loss with a decisive win over Chris Eubank Jr. at middleweight last November, reflected on the sudden surge of interest following his points victory over two‑time world champion Prograis. "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 go down to 150 lb, fight to the judges’ scorecards, and now they want to hype me up and call me out." Benn highlighted that his bout with Prograis was his first fight back at the 150‑pound limit in four years, and it came on a mere six‑week notice. "Not many people can say they will fight a two‑time former world champion on short notice, win almost every round, and then drop back down to 149 lb," he noted.
"For me, it’s a matter of discipline, 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 chief Dana White expressed enthusiasm about potentially staging a "fun" encounter between Benn and Garcia. "All the guys that have signed with us – we ask what you’ve dreamed about, what you want to do, what your career plans are," White told Sky Sports.
"We like to hear all those things. Obviously, I am about making the biggest fights you can possibly make.
All these kids that are fighting with us see it the same way." In addition to Benn, Zuffa Boxing announced the signing of former WBO cruiserweight champion Chris Billam‑Smith, and White hinted that more of Britain’s top talent will be added to the roster 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." The landscape of the welterweight division is increasingly dynamic, with Benn’s assertive stance adding another layer of intrigue.
While the Garcia showdown remains the headline, the growing chorus of challengers – ranging from seasoned veterans to hungry prospects – suggests that Benn’s path to a world title could involve multiple high‑stakes battles. Whether he ultimately faces Garcia in the near future or opts for an alternative marquee matchup, Benn’s recent performances, contractual security, and willingness to fight on short notice position him as one of the most marketable and formidable contenders in the sport today.