Conor Benn Rules Out Teofimo Lopez Fight Before Garcia Clash

Conor Benn has already drawn a line under his welterweight career before he's even stepped into the ring with Ryan Garcia. Speaking to Ring Magazine ahead of their September 12 clash at Las Vegas' T-Mobile Arena, Benn (25-1, 14 KO) said Garcia is his final opponent at 147lbs — win, lose or draw — and that he intends to move all the way up to super-middleweight afterwards. The plan, as he put it, is simple: take the belt, dominate, and go to 168.

That's a bold call for a fighter making his first trip back to the welterweight limit since 2022, the year he tested positive for the banned substance clomifene. Garcia, meanwhile, defends the WBC strap he lifted with a career-best showing against Mario Barrios in February, dropping him and cruising to a unanimous decision. At 28, Garcia is the heavy favourite here.

The Fight He Just Killed Off

By slamming the door on any future at 147, Benn has effectively taken himself out of a potential unification with Teofimo Lopez. Lopez claimed the WBA welterweight title last month by beating Rolando Romero, and there's been real momentum behind a showdown with the Garcia-Benn winner.

The wrinkle? Benn's manager, Keith Connolly, also handles Lopez. Connolly is reportedly trying to sidestep a mandatory defence against Jack Catterall (33-2, #9) so 'The Takeover' can chase the Garcia-Benn victor, or one of the other champions floating around the division. Benn's comments suggest that particular fight is off the table regardless.

Which Garcia Shows Up?

The trouble with pricing Garcia is figuring out which version turns up. The Barrios performance was excellent, but rewind to May 2025 and he was outpointed convincingly by the same Romero that Lopez just beat. That loss came fresh off a year-long doping ban, so the improvement was expected — but it's a reminder that Garcia's form runs hot and cold.

On paper, Garcia holds the speed edge, and Benn's weight concerns are legitimate. Making 147 after four years away isn't a formality, and the last time he did it, things ended badly outside the ring. Benn insists there are no excuses this time.

What It Means for the Division

If Benn is telling the truth about vacating rather than defending, the WBC belt gets stripped and the sanctioning body names its top two contenders to fight for it. Behind Benn in the top five sit Souleymane Cissokho, Raul Curiel, Brian Norman Jr and Richardson Hitchins — a decent little scrap for whoever gets the nod.

The wider 147 picture is loaded. Devin Haney holds the WBO belt at a spotless 33-0 (15 KO) after outpointing Norman Jr, and Liam Paro carries the IBF strap at 28-1 (16 KO) following his decision over Lewis Crocker. Any of those names could headline a unification night if the champions can be pried loose from their mandatories.

For Benn, the logic isn't crazy. He's a natural bigger man, and dragging himself down to welterweight has never been comfortable. If he beats Garcia and walks away with the belt, jumping two divisions to 168 is ambitious — but it's his to gamble.

For now, none of it matters until September 12. Benn can talk about super-middleweight all he likes, but he's the underdog against a champion coming off the best night of his career. Rule out Lopez all you want — first you have to beat Garcia.