Tony Sims, the longtime coach of Conor Benn, has made it clear that the British fighter will never step back into the welterweight division again. The statement came after Benn’s brief and disastrous attempt to contest the WBC welterweight title against Ryan Garcia, a bout that ended with Benn being stopped on his feet in the second round. Sims spoke to Sky Sports with a mixture of disappointment and pragmatic honesty.

“There are no excuses,” he said. “Making the 147‑pound limit was a challenge for Conor, and he never pretended it wasn’t.” He went on to acknowledge that the preparation leading up to the fight had been solid: “He had a good camp, the sparring sessions the week before were productive, and he was in sync with his game plan. He simply got caught by a clean shot.

In elite boxing, that’s the reality.” When pressed about the future of Benn’s weight class, Sims confirmed that the Garcia showdown would be the last time the boxer competes at welterweight. “Without a shadow of a doubt, this was his final fight at 147 pounds. He made the weight, but it wasn’t easy,” the trainer explained. He added that the financial and promotional stakes of the Garcia fight were unique: “The size of the purse and the exposure you get from a fight of that magnitude simply aren’t available elsewhere.

Sometimes a fighter has to take a calculated risk.” Sims expressed surprise at the timing of the referee’s stoppage. “Benn landed a solid shot and recovered quickly, getting back on his feet. He tried to clinch, using the ropes to stay upright.

In my view the stoppage was a little premature, even though the punch that landed was a quality blow.” He emphasized that there is no room for excuses after such a high‑profile loss. “It’s what it is.

It’s a shame the fight didn’t get a few more rounds, given the stakes involved.” Looking ahead, the discussion turned to Benn’s possible move up the weight ladder. A shift to middleweight or even super‑middleweight could open the door to a third encounter with Chris Eubank Jr., a bout that has been hinted at for years. The two families—Nigel Benn and Chris Eubank—have a storied rivalry that has spilled over to their sons.

Last year, Conor and Chris squared off twice at middleweight; Benn lost the first encounter but won the rematch, leaving fans eager for a decisive third meeting. Sims underscored that the prospect of a third Benn‑Eubank clash will remain on the calendar, regardless of the timeline.

“That fight will always be there, whether it’s a year from now or ten years down the line. The names together generate perpetual interest,” he said. “Whether Conor wants to pursue it or Chris does, the matchup will always be a talking point.” However, Sims cautioned that Benn may need a substantial break from the sport before entertaining any further high‑profile bouts.

“I don’t expect Conor to be talking about boxing any time soon,” he noted. “He needs a complete rest right now. Financially he’s secure for life, but the mental and physical toll has left him burnt out.” In summary, Tony Sims has drawn a definitive line under Conor Benn’s welterweight chapter.

The loss to Ryan Garcia, compounded by the difficulty of making weight and the abrupt stoppage, has convinced his trainer that the 147‑pound division is now behind him. The focus will shift to higher weight classes, where a potential third showdown with Chris Eubank Jr. could provide the drama and narrative that boxing fans have long awaited.

Until then, Benn is likely to step away from the ring, recover, and reassess his future in the sport.