Conor Benn made clear he wants WBC welterweight champion Ryan Garcia next after defeating Regis Prograis on Saturday.
Benn ground out a unanimous decision over the former world champion on the Tyson Fury vs Arslanbek Makhmudov undercard at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in his first fight of the year.
The 29-year-old had to work hard for the win after several head clashes left him with cuts around his eye, and he immediately turned his attention to Garcia afterwards.
“Garcia, I want my belt! I want my belt. Keep my belt warm,” Benn said in a video posted on social media. “September. Let’s go. Any day of the week. Twice on Sundays. 10 rounds, easy. Garcia, you’re next. Keep my belt warm.”
Garcia, who captured the WBC welterweight title in February by defeating Mario Barrios, responded: “I’m down. Garcia vs Benn. Let’s do it.”
Benn’s victory over Prograis moves his professional record to 25-1. The bout was held at a catchweight of 150lb, three pounds above the welterweight limit of 147lb.
He has spent most of his career at welterweight; his only professional loss came at 160lb to Chris Eubank Jr before avenging that defeat in their rematch last year.
Prograis pushed Benn throughout the fight, but Benn’s superior speed and energy secured him the points win. “It was a great fight. Tough, durable, experience. I had to weather some storms but we are good,” Benn said. “My first fight back at 150 for three years and now I’m ready to move down to 147 to get Ryan Garcia.”
Watch Alycia Baumgardner vs Bo Mi Re Shin live on Sky Sports in the early hours of Saturday April 18. Not got Sky? Stream boxing and more with no contract.