Conor Benn has delivered a mixed assessment of WBC welterweight champion Ryan Garcia, praising his entertainment value while simultaneously branding him a "liability" to the sport.
Benn, 29, acknowledged Garcia's positive impact on boxing's profile, citing his charismatic and unpredictable nature as a draw for fans. However, the British fighter expressed significant reservations about Garcia's reliability, suggesting his erratic behavior creates uncertainty for potential opponents.
"I think Garcia's good for the sport of boxing," Benn stated. "He's a character and he's entertaining, but he's also a liability. You don't know who's turning up—you don't know if Garcia's turning up. You don't know if he's going to make the fight or not, have some sort of episode. You just don't know."
The criticism comes despite Garcia being Benn's primary target for a title shot. Benn revealed that a fight with Garcia was originally scheduled as his next bout, but he opted against a prolonged waiting period. Instead, he will face Regis Prograis on April 11 to maintain activity.
"Garcia was next, that was scheduled in—I am mandatory number one position for Garcia," Benn explained. "Now if you're me, do you wait out until September or do you take a potential banana skin in the middle? I like rolling the dice and having a little bit of fun and keeping active."
Benn's upcoming fight marks his first since departing from longtime promoter Matchroom Boxing and signing a one-fight deal with Zuffa Boxing in February. The new promotion, backed by UFC chief Dana White and Saudi Arabian investment, aims to establish itself as a major force in the sport.
Despite the promotional shift and his immediate focus on Prograis, Benn's ambition to capture a world title remains undiminished. He has multiple potential paths to a championship, with titles held by Rolando Romero (WBA), Lewis Crocker (IBF), and Devin Haney (WBO).
Yet Garcia, with his controversial history including a one-year doping suspension and two failed title attempts before finally winning the WBC belt in February, remains Benn's foremost objective. Benn offered a begrudging respect for Garcia's authenticity, even while admitting personal dislike.
"People don't want to be themselves in the sport of boxing, so I love it when I see a young man under fire for being who he is," Benn remarked. "At least you're true to yourself and who you are. Whether I like you or not—I don't him—but some people do, just be who you are."