Conor Benn has opened the door to a showdown with Ryan Garcia following Saturday’s defeat to Chris Eubank Jr.
Benn will be ringside at Times Square in New York on Friday to witness Garcia’s clash with Rolando Romero, which is for the WBA ‘regular’ welterweight world title.
The rivalry between the pair stems back from their brawl at the Ring Magazine Awards in January.
Garcia was complimentary of Benn following his thrilling defeat to Eubank Jr on points at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
“Honestly there really isn’t a loser this fight!” he posted on X.
“Head high Conor.”
Benn has a rematch clause in place with Eubank Jr and Turki Alalshikh has targeted a return fight in September.
But ‘The Destroyer’, who moved up to middleweight to face Eubank Jr, says he would return to welterweight for a bout with Garcia or with WBC champion, Mario Barrios.
“If the rematch doesn’t happen I’d love to fight Barrios for the WBC world title,” the 28-year-old told IFLTV.
“If it’s not Eubank.
“But then again, I’m flying out to New York tomorrow to see Queen Ryan, so we’ll see.
“I believe he’s campaigning at 147.
“He’s got the WBA title, providing he wins this fight.
“No problem. I’ll happily fight him for the WBA world title for sure.
“There’s options.”
Should Garcia win, he will put himself in line for a shot at IBF and WBA ‘super’ titlist, Jaron Ennis, who has been handed two mandatories by the WBA.
The Philadelphia man has been ordered to defend the belt he claimed from Eimantas Stanionis earlier this month against Shakhram Giyasov and then the winner of Friday’s match between Garcia and Romero.
Garcia fights for the first time since his controversial victory over Devin Haney last April, which was later changed to a no contest after the 26-year-old tested positive for Ostarine.
The Californian was handed a one-year suspension by the New York State Athletic Commission, a ban which ended last week just in time for his bout against Romero.
