Promoter and boxing legend Oscar De La Hoya has shared his unfiltered verdict on Conor Benn following the British star’s devastating knockout defeat to Ryan Garcia last month in Las Vegas.
The high-profile clash at the T-Mobile Arena marked Benn’s first career opportunity to fight for a world title. However, the anticipated spectacle came to a swift and brutal end as the Briton was comfortably dispatched by the WBC welterweight champion inside two explosive rounds. The bout captured the attention of the global boxing community, drawing massive interest from fans on both sides of the Atlantic, but it ultimately highlighted a stark gulf in class at the elite world championship level.
De La Hoya, who has guided Garcia’s career through his promotional banner and possesses an intimate understanding of his fighter’s immense physical talents and ring IQ, has now explained precisely how and why he knew it was always going to be an exceptionally easy night’s work for the man known as "King Ry."
Speaking candidly during an interview with Fight Hub TV, the former multi-division world champion and Hall of Famer admitted that while he holds a personal fondness for Benn, he fundamentally does not believe that "The Destroyer" possesses the necessary skill set or pedigree to match the elite standard of talent currently dominating the American boxing scene.
Reflecting on how the fight unfolded compared to his pre-fight expectations, De La Hoya did not mince his words regarding the reality of stepping into the ring against elite American competition.
"Ryan knocked out Conor Benn the way I expected," De La Hoya told Fight Hub TV. "People were saying it’s a huge fight. It turned out the way I envisaged it. Benn is a great fighter don’t get me wrong, he’s a good fighter in the UK, but there’s a difference when you come fight in the US, it’s a whole different level."
The promotional boss further elaborated on his thoughts, offering praise for Benn’s authenticity outside the ring while simultaneously criticizing the strategic matchmaking decisions that led the British contender into such a perilous championship assignment.
"I love Conor, I think he’s one of the realest fighters out there, I love the way he talks, but the Zuffa guys and TKO, they don’t know what they were doing," De La Hoya continued. "I knew Conor Benn was going to get knocked out in two rounds, three rounds maximum, and that’s exactly what he did."
The emphatic victory cemented Garcia’s status as one of the most dangerous and electrifying punchers in the sport today, reinforcing De La Hoya’s long-standing belief in his fighter’s capabilities on the grandest stages. For Garcia, the victory served as another statement performance in front of a packed Las Vegas crowd, validating the rigorous training camps and high-stakes matchmaking that have defined his professional trajectory under De La Hoya’s guidance.
For Benn, the swift and punishing defeat serves as a sobering reality check as he navigates the aftermath of his maiden world title attempt. The heavy loss stripped away his undefeated record in dramatic fashion and forced a thorough reassessment of his immediate boxing future, particularly regarding weight classes and the calibre of opposition required to truly compete at the highest tier of the sport.
With the chapter on his welterweight world title challenge now firmly closed, Benn is already plotting his next steps inside the squared circle. The British star is now set to move back up in weight for his next professional contest, looking to rebuild his momentum away from the 147-pound division where he encountered such a swift halt against Garcia.
Among the options currently being weighed for his anticipated return is a blockbuster trilogy showdown with his former domestic rival Chris Eubank Jr., a potential domestic matchup that would undoubtedly capture the imagination of British fight fans and serve as a massive pay-per-view attraction following Benn’s departure from the welterweight title picture.
