Conor Benn has issued an emotional statement on his loss to Ryan Garcia, after suffering a second-round stoppage by the American on Saturday.
Benn was fighting for a world title for the first time as he challenged Garcia in Las Vegas, where the WBC welterweight champion needed fewer than five minutes to dispatch of the Briton.
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Benn had lost once before, but Saturday’s main event marked his first knockout defeat, as Garcia floored him with a huge right hook then swarmed the “Destroyer” against the ropes, forcing the referee to step in.
Conor Benn after his loss to Ryan Garcia in Las Vegas (Getty)
“Everybody keeps asking ‘What’s next for Conor Benn?'” Benn wrote on X on Monday. “The truth is, I don’t have the answer.
“If you’d asked the 19 year old version of me whether I thought I’d be standing here ten years later, having lived through everything I have, I’d have told you that you were crazy.
“I train hard. I sacrifice. I’ve given this game 110% every time I’ve stepped through those ropes, I’ve wanted to give people unforgettable nights and entertain. That’s what this has always been about for me.
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“People spend their hard earned money to come and watch guys like us fight. I’ve never taken that for granted. I’ve always wanted to be a servant of the public and give everything I have when it matters.
“But giving everything comes at a cost. And the people who have paid that cost more than anyone are my family and my kids.
“They’ve sacrificed time with their Dad so I could chase this dream. They’ve had to share me with this sport their entire lives. So when people ask me what’s next for Conor Benn, right now the answer is simple. Time with my kids.
“Fight fans, thank you. Those who travelled to Vegas, those who stayed up until the early hours. I will never take your support for granted, especially on those nights things don’t go to plan.”
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While challenging Garcia, Benn was fighting at welterweight for the first time in two-and-a-half years. Since his last outing in the division, the 29-year-old fought three times, all at higher weights – including his two bouts with Chris Eubank Jr in 2025.
Garcia floored Benn with a massive right hook in round two (AP)
Those contests took place at middleweight, with Eubank Jr outpointing Benn in April, before Benn returned the favour in November. And a trilogy fight between the bitter rivals could be next, and Eubank Jr was quick to mock Benn for his loss on Saturday.
Eubank Jr, 36, tweeted: “Welcome to the ‘fighting after cutting too much weight’ club… Enjoy.” The former world champion was referencing his preference of fighting at super-middleweight at this stage of his career.
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Meanwhile, Garcia could be set for a unification fight against WBA champion Teofimo Lopez, who tried to enter the ring and face off with “King Ryan” on Saturday.
Benn’s fight with Garcia was controversial on account of each man having navigated a drug-test controversy in the past.
Garcia failed a drug test in 2024, leading to a one-year ban, despite the 28-year-old maintaining his innocence. In 2022, Benn had failed two drug tests that saw him provisionally suspended from boxing in the UK, until he was cleared to do so in 2024. Benn similarly maintained his innocence throughout the episode.
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