Conor Benn has broken his silence following his devastating loss to Ryan Garcia and revealed that he plans to step away from boxing for some time.
Benn challenged Garcia for the WBC welterweight title on Saturday, but the fight quickly turned into a nightmare for the British boxer. Garcia stopped Benn in the second round, ending their long-running rivalry and handing him the first knockout loss of his professional career.
Now, Conor Benn releases first statement since the defeat, and the former welterweight contender has made it clear that he wants to spend some time with his family before deciding what comes next.
“If you’d asked the 19-year-old version of me whether I thought I’d be standing here ten years later, having lived through everything I have, I’d have told you that you were crazy.
“I train hard. I sacrifice. I’ve given this game 110% every time I’ve stepped through those ropes. I’ve wanted to give people unforgettable nights and entertain. That’s what this has always been about for me.”
“People spend their hard-earned money to come and watch guys like us fight. I’ve never taken that for granted. I’ve always wanted to be a servant of the public and give everything I have when it matters.But giving everything comes at a cost.
“And the people who have paid that cost more than anyone are my family and my kids. They’ve sacrificed time with their Dad so I could chase this dream. They’ve had to share me with this sport their entire lives.
“So when people ask me what’s next for Conor Benn, right now the answer is simple. Time with my kids.”
Benn also thanked the fans who travelled to Las Vegas and stayed up to watch the fight, despite the disappointing result.
“Fight fans, thank you. Those who travelled to Vegas, those who stayed up until the early hours. I will never take your support for granted, especially on those nights things don’t go to plan.”
The loss came after Benn entered the fight with plenty of momentum. He had picked up impressive victories over Chris Eubank Jr. and Regis Prograis before facing Garcia, but he struggled to match Garcia’s speed and aggression.
Garcia capitalized on those problems and stopped Benn in the second round, putting a decisive end to their rivalry.
The defeat also marked Benn and Garcia’s Zuffa Boxing debuts under Dana White’s new boxing promotion, adding another layer to what was already a highly anticipated matchup.
Despite the setback, Benn’s career is far from over. The second-generation boxer remains one of Britain’s biggest names in the sport, but for now, he appears more interested in stepping away from the ring and spending time with his children.
Benn is the son of former two-division world champion Nigel Benn and has built much of his career around the rivalry with fellow second-generation boxer Chris Eubank Jr. The pair split their two fights in 2025.
For now, however, Conor Benn releases first statement with no clear answer about his next fight. After years of training, sacrifice and putting boxing ahead of almost everything else, the 29-year-old appears ready to put his family first.
