Conor Benn made his intentions clear after grinding out a unanimous decision over Regis Prograis on Saturday, immediately calling for a shot at WBC welterweight champion Ryan Garcia.
Benn secured the victory on the Tyson Fury vs Arslanbek Makhmudov undercard at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in his first fight of the year. The 29-year-old battled through several head clashes that left cuts around his eye but did enough across the rounds to earn the judges’ nod.
After the fight Benn spoke directly to Garcia in a video posted on social media: “Garcia, I want my belt! I want my belt. Keep my belt warm. September. Let’s go. Any day of the week. Twice on Sundays. 10 rounds, easy. Garcia, you’re next. Keep my belt warm.” Garcia replied on social media, “I’m down. Garcia vs Benn. Let’s do it.”
The win moves Benn’s professional record to 25-1. The bout was contested at a 150 lb catchweight, three pounds above the welterweight limit of 147 lb. Benn has spent most of his career at welterweight; his only professional loss came at 160 lb to Chris Eubank Jr., a defeat he avenged in their rematch last year.
Prograis pushed the pace and tested Benn throughout, but Benn’s speed and sustained energy carried him to the decision. “It was a great fight. Tough, durable, experience. I had to weather some storms but we are good,” Benn said after the result. He added that this was his first fight back at 150 lb in three years and that he is prepared to move down to 147 lb to pursue a showdown with Garcia.
Garcia captured the WBC welterweight title in February by defeating Mario Barrios, making a Benn matchup a compelling prospect for the division.
Also on the card, fans can watch Alycia Baumgardner vs Bo Mi Re Shin live on Sky Sports in the early hours of Saturday April 18. If you don’t have Sky, the fight and other boxing events are available via streaming options without a contract.