Conor Benn takes a huge step up this evening when he fights Ryan Garcia, and former undisputed champion Josh Taylor has now made his final prediction.
Benn is back down at 147lbs for the first time since 2022, which many think could be a problem for him. Since then, he has been up to 160lbs twice to fight Chris Eubank Jr, losing the first contest and then winning the rematch with a wide points decision last November.
Back in April, he trimmed down to 150lbs for a fight with ageing former champion Regis Prograis, and though he beat him soundly, he failed to really hurt the American, with some suggesting he doesn’t carry the power he once did in his earlier years.
Now he fights for his first world title out in Las Vegas against the lightning-quick Garcia, who has long been settled at the welterweight limit.
Speaking to talkSPORT Boxing, Taylor explained why he thinks Benn will end up being stopped.
“I am of the opinion that eventually Ryan Garcia will knock him out. I think he will catch him with one of them left hooks. It depends on how Conor has taken that weight off. It depends how long he has taken to take that weight mass of, the muscle.
“That takes a long time for your body to adjust. It’s one thing taking off maybe a stone in water; you can do that with maybe not too much effect. But when you’re taking off muscle mass as well you’re losing strength and power as well.”
Both of these fighters have preciously field drug tests, and Benn recently revealed that both men have been rigorously tested in the build-up to this fight. Benn has also said that whatever the result, he will immediately move back up given how brutal his weight cut has been.
