Eddie Hearn provides his verdict on Ryan Garcia vs Conor Benn

Eddie Hearn believes weight could be a major deciding factor when Ryan Garcia and Conor Benn face off for the former’s WBC welterweight title on September 12. 

The pair will come together in Las Vegas and after trading verbal attacks at an event to publicise the fight earlier this month, it’s clear that both men don’t like each other and that each fighter is very confident. 

For Benn, this will be his first time at 147lbs in four years after campaigning at middleweight to face Chris Eubank Jr before a catchweight meeting with Regis Prograis back in April. 

Garcia impressed in his last outing at the start of 2026 when he produced one of the finest performances of his career to defeat Mario Barrios to finally become world champion. 

Hearn knows Benn very well after promoting the Essex fighter for so long, but Benn’s shocking defection to Zuffa Boxing has damaged their relationship. 

Despite admiring Benn’s ambition for taking on the biggest challenges, Hearn believes Benn’s best qualities may no longer be evident after he loses what’s required to return to his former weight class. 

“It’s an exciting fight for boxing. I don’t like Conor at 147, I don’t believe he should be fighting down there,” said Hearn when speaking to KO Artist Sports 

“He had those two fights with Eubank at 160. I’m not saying he’s a middleweight, he fought Regis Prograis at 150. He looked terrible in that fight. 147 is brutal for him now. 

“He trains so hard, but I don’t think he has power down there. I don’t think he’ll have the chin down there, and Ryan’s a world-class fighter. Sometimes he has his off nights, but he’s very sharp and is a big puncher. But it’ll be fun because Conor’s got big balls. He’ll have a right go.”