- Trainer Tony Sims says Conor Benn will never fight at welterweight again after his second-round stoppage loss to Ryan Garcia
- Sims says Benn is burnt out mentally and physically and will take an extended break, though he felt the stoppage came early
- A move to middleweight or super middleweight could lead to a third fight with Chris Eubank Jr, but Sims says that is uncertain and a long way off
The Door Closes On 147lb
Right then. Tony Sims has said Conor Benn will never fight at welterweight again, and after Ryan Garcia stopped him in round two in Las Vegas, I think that is the most sensible thing anyone in the Benn camp has said all year. Sims admitted the weight cut was demanding, and anyone who followed fight week heard how brutal it was.
Sims also said he felt the stoppage came prematurely, while crediting Garcia's finishing shot as a fantastic punch. Fair enough. A trainer is always going to say that. But make no mistake, a fighter who has drained himself to make a weight is exactly the fighter who is easier to hurt, and Garcia's shot did the rest.
Burnt Out, And Taking Time
The more important line is about how Benn is doing. Sims says he is burnt out mentally and physically and will take an extended break. Good. Benn has had a punishing run, and rushing him back to make a mandatory or a payday would be a mistake. A proper rest and a clear head is worth more than one more fight this year.
Middleweight, Super Middleweight, And Eubank
The route back is up. Middleweight or super middleweight would let Benn fight at a natural size, and it keeps the Chris Eubank Jr trilogy alive. Sims was careful to say that fight is uncertain and a long way away, and he is right to be. Benn has to prove he still has it at a heavier weight first, against opposition that punches back.
The Verdict
Let's not beat around the bush. Welterweight was a step too far for Benn, and the Garcia defeat has shown it. My prediction: he takes the break, comes back at 160lb or above, and looks better for it. A third Eubank fight is the big-money end game, and if he wins a couple of proper fights on the way there it stops being a fantasy and becomes the obvious next chapter. Benn is a proper name with a proper fanbase, but he needs to stop chasing the weight and start trusting his frame.