Conor Benn's boxing career is at a pivotal moment, with a potential sacrifice of his WBC mandatory title shot to pursue a different, highly anticipated championship. The 29-year-old's recent rematch with Chris Eubank Jr. at 160 lbs. resulted in a dominant unanimous decision victory, elevating him to the WBC's leading welterweight contender. However, Benn's sights are set on a different prize.
The upcoming bout between Mario Barrios and Ryan Garcia at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on February 21st presents a significant opportunity. Benn, who hasn't fought at 147 lbs. since 2021, could potentially face the winner of this fight. Yet, there's a twist. Benn's promoter, Eddie Hearn, has hinted at a potential alternative, suggesting that Benn might bypass the mandatory challenger, Shakhram Giyasov, and face Rolando Romero for the WBA secondary title.
Romero secured the WBA secondary title with a points victory over Garcia in May, and was later promoted to full world welterweight champion. However, he's now set to defend his belt against Giyasov, who has been the WBA's mandatory challenger for some time. Benn's team is exploring a 'solution' to allow him to leapfrog Giyasov and face Romero, who is managed by Luis DeCubas. Hearn revealed that discussions between himself and DeCubas are underway, with Benn set to visit New York next week.
The potential bout between Benn and Romero is a significant one, as it could be a 'very big fight' in the UK for the world championship. Hearn expressed his preference for the Romero fight, citing its potential for great business in London. With the WBO super-lightweight champion, Teofimo Lopez, set to defend his title against Shakur Stevenson at Madison Square Garden, New York, next week, there's a possibility for an immediate world title fight at 147 lbs. for the winner of the Barrios-Garcia bout.
The decision Benn faces is a challenging one, as the Ryan Garcia fight is a more prominent opportunity. Yet, the Romero fight presents a unique and potentially lucrative challenge. The boxing world awaits Benn's choice, with the potential for a highly anticipated clash that could shape his future in the sport.
