Conor Benn is targeting a first world title shot next after his stunning rematch win over Chris Eubank Jr.
‘The Destroyer’ produced a dominant display to inflict revenge on his arch-rival in Saturday night’s one-sided rematch at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, emphatically bouncing back from his first career defeat by the same opponent in a modern classic back in April.
Despite their bitter feud now being levelled at one win apiece, Benn afterwards declared that there would be no trilogy fight against Eubank Jr, declaring the 35-year saga between two of British boxing’s most famous families to be finished and not to be passed down to future generations as it has been from their fathers.
Instead, the 29-year-old wants to return to his natural home of welterweight after two significant jumps up to middleweight to battle Eubank Jr, having not fought at 147lbs since his low-key win over Peter Dobson in Las Vegas in February 2024.
The confident Benn called out a number of high-profile fighters in the ring after his comprehensive defeat of Eubank Jr, including the likes of American trio Ryan Garcia, Rolly Romero and Devin Haney.
“All of them can get it, every day of the week and twice on Sundays,” he told DAZN.
However, Benn is particularly now focused on a first world title tilt against WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios.
“I feel great, I just want to get back in the gym and back in the ring,” Benn said. “Mario Barrios [I want next] for the WBC title.”
Mexican-American Barrios has been a world champion since last summer, having seen the interim crown he won against Yordenis Ugas and successfully defended against Fabian Maidana upgraded after former undisputed champion Terence Crawford was made champion in recess ahead of his move up to super-welterweight and later super-middleweight.
Barrios, 29-2-2 with 18 knockouts, has since retained the full title twice, but only drew with both Abel Ramos and returning legend Manny Pacquiao.
He has been strongly rumoured to be facing Garcia in his next defence in early 2026, but that fight has yet to be confirmed. Garcia has not fought since losing to Romero in his comeback in New York in May, which won the latter the WBA regular title.
Romero has also been mentioned as a potential next opponent for Pacquaio, though may have to face mandatory challenger Shakhram Giyasov first.
Former undisputed lightweight and WBC super-lightweight titlist Haney is due to challenge for Brian Norman Jr’s WBO welterweight title in Riyadh next weekend and the winner could have to meet Jack Catterall in 2026 after ‘El Gato’ stopped Ekow Essuman late in a thrilling chief support act on the Eubank Jr vs Benn 2 undercard to become the new WBO Global champion.
The IBF title at welterweight is currently held by the unbeaten Lewis Crocker, who won the previously vacant belt in a historic all-Irish rematch against Paddy Donovan in Belfast in September. Pacquiao and Benn have both been tipped as potential high-profile first defences for Crocker in recent weeks.
