Conor ‘The Destroyer’ Benn 23-0 (14) could face Danny ‘Swift’ Garcia 37-3 (21) next after talks with Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis 29-0 (27) collapsed.
It always seemed unlikely that a bout between Benn, whose last two fights took place at junior middleweight, and WBA lightweight champion Davis would ever eventuate despite their back and forth bickering on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.
Former WBC welterweight champion Garcia, 35, has been largely inactive in recent years, boxing just once since his decision loss to Errol ‘The Truth’ Spence Jr 28-1 (22) in December 2020. That fight was a majority decision victory over Jose ‘El Phoenix’ Benavidez Jr 28-3-1 (19) in June 2022.
But Philadelphia’s Garcia is keen to return to the ring and sees the 27-year-old Benn as the ideal opponent.
“I would love to fight him at 154,” Garcia told YSM Sports Media. “That makes great sense. He wants to fight a big name. Garcia vs Benn. There ain’t no bigger fight than fighting Danny Garcia. So, I would love that fight.
“Stylistically, that’s a great fight for me and that’s a fight that I would love at 154, not at 147. They already know what time it is. I don’t duck no smoke. I’m about to change my middle name from ‘Swift’ to ‘Smoke’.”
Benn is currently unable to box in his native United Kingdom after a second failed drugs test. His last two bouts have taken place in the United States, a 10-round unanimous decision win over Rodolfo Orozco 33-4-3 (25) in September and a 12-round unanimous decision victory over Peter Dobson 16-1 (9) earlier this month.
If Benn’s ban at home is lifted, Garcia says he has no problem travelling to make the fight.
“If the price is right, I would go anywhere [to fight Benn],” said Garcia. “I watched [the Dobson fight]. I thought he did good. [Dobson] was gritty, though. He fought, he had skills.”
Garcia isn’t the only one lining up to face Benn. Promoter Eddie Hearn says he is just one name on a shortlist of options.
“There’s a lot of movement for Conor Benn,” the Matchroom Boxing boss said. “There are probably five fights at the moment for Conor Benn. They are approaching the contractual stage.
“We had the hearing last week [to see about getting Benn’s UK suspension lifted]. In a couple of weeks, it should be resolved and then we’ll decide where we’re going to fight. I want to see [Benn] fight in the UK next and it’s going to be a massive fight.
“Danny Garcia reached out to our team to talk to me directly and I’ll be talking to him this week. I love the fight with Danny Garcia, the USA or the UK. Like I said, four or five names and he’s definitely in the mix.”
