In a thrilling development for boxing enthusiasts, British sensation Conor Benn has announced his plans to attend the highly anticipated WBC welterweight title bout between Mario Barrios and Ryan Garcia. The championship showdown is set to take place on February 21 at the iconic T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, with Benn poised to challenge the victor for the coveted belt.
Benn, affectionately known as ‘The Destroyer,’ has been designated as the mandatory challenger by the WBC, despite not having competed in the welterweight division for nearly three years. The 29-year-old recently avenged his earlier points loss to Chris Eubank Jr. by securing a victory in their second middleweight encounter. Benn has openly expressed his support for Garcia, predicting that the young American will unseat Barrios, who has drawn his last two fights.
“I’ve always dreamed of becoming the WBC champion,” Benn stated. “To be within reach of that goal and to be named the mandatory challenger is an incredible feeling. I’ll be there ringside, and I’m ready to face the winner. There’s no doubt in my mind that Garcia will emerge victorious. The prospect of a Garcia vs. Benn matchup is truly exciting.”
Barrios, the current WBC welterweight champion, is coming off a controversial majority draw against Manny Pacquiao in July. Garcia, aged 27, is eager to claim his first world title but is rebounding from a decisive loss to WBA champion Rolly Romero in May. Romero secured a unanimous decision victory after dropping Garcia during their Times Square bout.
Benn’s two epic battles with Eubank Jr. drew massive crowds, with 70,000 fans packing the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Benn has expressed his willingness to travel to the United States to capture a world title, much like Dalton Smith, who recently knocked out Subriel Matias to become the WBC super lightweight world champion in Brooklyn.
“Dalton Smith’s achievement is truly inspiring,” Benn remarked. “I’d love to replicate that success in Las Vegas. The T-Mobile Arena is already booked for Cinco De Mayo, but I also feel a responsibility to bring a world title fight to the UK for my supporters. Another stadium fight would be incredible, wouldn’t it?”
As the boxing world eagerly awaits the Barrios-Garcia clash, all eyes will be on Conor Benn, who is determined to make his mark on the welterweight division and bring the WBC title back to British soil.
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