Conor Benn has made it clear that a showdown with WBC welterweight champion Ryan Garcia sits at the top of his agenda, but he also hinted that a host of other high‑profile fighters are "begging" for a chance to step into the ring with him. The British pugilist 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‑headlined event at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last Saturday. Benn now holds the mandatory challenger spot for Garcia’s title, yet he believes his position opens the door to a range of elite opponents.
"Of course, getting that Garcia fight done is the priority, but I’m not short of options," Benn told Sky Sports. He added that many fighters are calling him out, with several big‑name contenders expressing interest in a bout. "God willing, we get the Garcia fight done for the title. I’m sitting at number one for that belt and I’ve worked incredibly hard to earn that spot.
If Ryan doesn’t want it, there are plenty of fish in the sea," he said. The conversation around Benn’s future has sparked a flurry of related news items. Dave Allen recently knocked out Jonny Fisher in a rematch, settling a controversial defeat from December. Daniel Dubois is reportedly eyeing potential match‑ups with both Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk after his February IBF heavyweight title defence.
Meanwhile, fans can catch a free live stream of the press conference where Eubank and Benn will face off in Manchester, and Adam Azim has labeled a bout with Ohara Davies as his toughest test yet, eager to step into the ring on Saturday. Benn, who avenged his sole professional loss with a victory over Chris Eubank Jr.
at middleweight last November, also reflected on the reaction to his points win over two‑time world champion Prograis. "Do you know what’s funny?
After the weekend, every fighter is calling me out, begging for a fight," he laughed. He noted that the outcry was absent after his second fight with Eubank, when the media fell silent. "They’ve seen me drop to 150 lb, go the distance on points, and now they want to hype me up and call me out. Maybe it’s a blessing that I went the distance with Regis." Benn emphasized that the bout with Prograis was his first fight back at 150 lb in four years, and he took it on six weeks’ notice.
"Not many can say they fought a two‑time former world champion on short notice, won almost every round, and then cut down to 149 lb," he explained. "It’s all about discipline, staying in the gym, and being ready to step in on short notice. If Ryan wants it, he can have it tomorrow. That’s news to me regarding any summer negotiations." Zuffa Boxing’s CEO Dana White echoed Benn’s enthusiasm for a high‑profile clash, saying the promotion is eager to arrange "fun" fights that capture fan interest.
"All the guys who have signed with us talk about their dreams, their career plans, and what they want to achieve," White told Sky Sports. "We want to make the biggest fights possible. The kids fighting for us share that same vision." White also highlighted Zuffa Boxing’s broader strategy of signing top British talent.
The company recently added former WBO cruiserweight champion Chris Billam‑Smith to its roster and expects to bring more UK fighters on board in the coming weeks. "We just struck a big deal with Sky, and we’ll be delivering major fights to the UK," White said.
"I’m looking for lots of UK talent—not just the big names you all know, but also young up‑and‑coming fighters with world‑championship potential." In summary, while Benn’s ultimate goal remains a title bout with Ryan Garcia, he is far from being without alternatives. The British fighter’s recent performances, his disciplined approach to weight and preparation, and the backing of a promotion eager to stage marquee events all combine to make him a highly sought‑after opponent. Whether the Garcia fight materialises soon or Benn pivots to another marquee matchup, the boxing world will be watching closely as the negotiations unfold and new fight announcements emerge.