Former world champion Amir Khan has weighed in on the future of Conor Benn, offering a candid assessment of the British welterweight’s ceiling while pointing toward a realistic and lucrative next step following his punishing defeat to WBC champion Ryan Garcia.
Known in the sport as "The Destroyer," Benn entered his first major world title shot last month with high ambitions, stepping back down to the 147-pound welterweight limit for a high-stakes showdown against Garcia. The bout immediately drew intense scrutiny and widespread debate, largely due to the fact that Benn had not competed at welterweight since 2022. That lengthy hiatus from the division followed a high-profile controversy in which Benn tested positive for clomifene, an anti-estrogenic substance, leading to the dramatic cancellation of his heavily anticipated domestic grudge match against Chris Eubank Jr.
Despite the months of buildup and anticipation surrounding his return to the 147-pound division, the fight itself proved to be a harsh reality check. Regardless of any adjustments or the difficulties of making the weight, Benn was comprehensively outclassed from the opening bell by Garcia. The American champion utilized a glaring and decisive speed advantage to dictate the pace and distance of the fight, rendering Benn’s aggressive tendencies largely ineffective. The defining moment of the contest arrived in the second round, when Garcia landed a devastating right hand that sent Benn crashing to the canvas.
Although Benn managed to beat the referee’s count, he simply could not recover from the sheer force and precision of the blow. As the rounds progressed, he absorbed further punishment before the fight was ultimately stopped on his feet, leading many analysts, pundits, and fans to question why he had been afforded such a major world championship opportunity at this stage of his career.
In the wake of the stoppage, questions naturally arose regarding whether Benn possesses the requisite skills to seriously compete at the elite world level. Those doubts were further underscored by the nature of his career trajectory, given that the 30-year-old’s most notable victory prior to the Garcia fight came against a faded and weight-drained Chris Eubank Jr. in their November encounter. Against elite opposition like Garcia, the gap in pedigree, timing, and speed was laid bare for the entire boxing world to witness.
Yet, even as questions linger over whether Benn can ever reach the pinnacle of the sport and capture a world title, British boxing icon Amir Khan believes there are still major opportunities available for "The Destroyer." Speaking in an interview with Boyle Sports, Khan offered a measured perspective on Benn’s current standing in the sport, suggesting that while world championship glory at welterweight may be a bridge too far, high-profile domestic blockbusters remain entirely viable.
Reflecting on the one-sided nature of the bout against Garcia, Khan admitted that watching the contest unfold was difficult from the perspective of a fellow fighter who knows the realities of elite-level combat. Khan noted that Benn may ultimately fall just short of cementing himself among the truly elite, pound-for-pound fighters of his era, despite possessing clear strengths that make him a dangerous opponent for anyone willing to trade punches with him.
"I think Conor may just miss the boat of being that top-level, elite fighter," Khan said. "But he’s good, don’t get me wrong, and he’s dangerous. He’s got power. For some reason, in that Ryan Garcia fight, it hurt me seeing it because he just couldn’t get in. It showed levels. He didn’t feel comfortable there."
Rather than pursuing an immediate and unforgiving path back through the shark-infested waters of the 147-pound or 154-pound divisions in search of another world title belt, Khan believes Benn should look toward familiar territory and unfinished business. Specifically, the former unified light-welterweight world champion suggested that Benn should finally pursue a lucrative rubber match or catchweight showdown with Eubank at 168 pounds.
Such a matchup, Khan argued, would make a tremendous amount of sense from both a financial and promotional standpoint, capitalizing on the lingering animosity and the massive public interest that originally surrounded their cancelled 2022 bout before it eventually manifested in modified forms late last year.
"I think he should get the rematch with Eubank," Khan continued. "That would be a fantastic fight. He’s already a name in UK boxing and he can fight some former world champions. But fighting the world champions or becoming world champion will be very difficult, especially at 147 [lbs]. I think his best chance would have been [against Mario] Barrios."
Khan’s reference to Mario Barrios highlights the narrow margins and missed windows of opportunity that often define a modern boxing career. Barrios had previously defended his WBC welterweight title against legendary Filipino icon Manny Pacquiao in a high-profile bout in July 2025. That title reign came to an end the following February when Barrios was comprehensively outpointed and dethroned by Ryan Garcia, setting off the chain of events that led Garcia directly to his championship defense against Benn.
With Garcia now holding the division’s attention and the elite tier of the welterweight and junior-middleweight ranks proving to be an exceptionally difficult environment for Benn to navigate, the path ahead requires careful matchmaking. As Benn evaluates his next moves following the first decisive defeat of his professional career, the advice from veterans like Khan points away from immediate world title aspirations and toward high-profile domestic clashes where his considerable power and established star power can still deliver massive entertainment value for British fight fans.
