Eddie Hearn Says Conor Benn Lacks The Power At 147 To Hurt Ryan Garcia

Hearn says Benn may lack punch at 147 after Prograis performance at catchweight

Eddie Hearn says Conor Benn may not carry enough power at welterweight to trouble Ryan Garcia. The concern follows Benn’s decision win over Regis Prograis at a 150-pound catchweight.

Benn defeated Regis Prograis by decision last weekend in a 150-pound catchweight contest. The win kept him in line for a possible shot at Garcia, but the performance drew criticism after Benn struggled to dominate a smaller, older opponent.

Hearn said the version of Benn seen in that fight did not resemble the stronger puncher he had watched in bouts contested above welterweight.

“Now, I’m not his promoter. I still think he can hurt him, but I don’t know if he can at 147lbs,” Hearn said to Fight Hub TV.

“I was watching that fight thinking, you don’t look like you have any power or zip in your punches. Whereas, up at 154lbs, at 160lbs, you looked strong.”

The comments create another question around a Garcia fight because Benn’s last appearance was not at 147 pounds. It came at 150, meaning he has still not shown how he looks, making the full welterweight limit ahead of a title fight.

If Benn has to come down those extra pounds, some may wonder whether the strength Hearn says is already fading could drop again. If the fight were instead held above welterweight, Garcia’s WBC title would likely not be on the line.

Garcia has said an announcement is expected soon. If the bout is finalized, weight terms may tell the real story before the opening bell.

The two fights with Eubank Jr. were absolute wars that likely shaved years off Benn’s prime. In their first meeting, Benn took a massive amount of punishment. He was on the brink of being stopped in the final minute, finishing the fight with a cut eye and a badly swollen face. While he showed heart, he was essentially a punching bag for Eubank’s clubbing combinations in the later rounds.

Looking at Benn in the Prograis fight last week, he does look older than his 29 years. The facial wear and tear from those 24 rounds with Eubank, a guy who is naturally much larger, seems to have settled in.

Benn’s best win is against a middleweight who most consider a fringe guy at best. Regis Prograis was supposed to be the elite test at 150, but Regis looked like a shadow of the man who fought Josh Taylor.

If Benn struggled to dominate a faded Prograis and took a career’s worth of damage against a limited Eubank Jr., it’s hard to see how he handles a peak Ryan Garcia, who has genuine, one-punch elite power.

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