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Orgo-Life the new way to the future Advertising by AdpathwayConor Benn may drop to the welterweight limit for his September 12 fight against WBC champion Ryan Garcia. The bigger concern is what the cut will leave him with once he enters the ring.
He hasn’t fought in this division since 2022. He competed at 150 pounds against Regis Prograis earlier this year after fighting Chris Eubank Jr. at much higher weights.
Cutting that last bit of weight presents a test Benn hasn’t dealt with in years.
“Conor has not boxed at 147 for four years,” Duke McKenzie said to talkSPORT Boxing. “When you’re trying to make weight, and you have to drag to make weight, it takes away your A-game.”
McKenzie believes the problem won’t disappear simply because Benn can rehydrate after stepping on the scale.
“I don’t think Conor Benn’s going to be physically strong enough because I think he’d be weight drained,” McKenzie said. “Even if you’re eating all night long, there’s still only so much weight you can put on.”
The Prograis fight makes the concern harder to dismiss.
Spencer Oliver noted that Benn made 150 for that contest and felt his punching power had already declined compared with what he showed against Eubank at 160. Trimming another three pounds requires taking weight off a body that hasn’t competed at the division limit in years.
“The last three pounds, as you guys know, making weight and how difficult that is, that last three pounds to the normal guy is like losing three stones and it will take a lot out of him,” Oliver said. “I think we saw against Regis Prograis that 147’s going to be difficult for Conor Benn.”
Paul Smith sees another potential issue. Benn’s size should theoretically give him an advantage, but Smith believes getting that larger body down to the limit may have the opposite effect.
“I think it’ll be his downfall because he hasn’t made it for so long,” Smith said.
Benn has shown serious power in this division in the past. The question is how effectively he can produce it after years of competing at higher weights.
Hitting 147 is only the first test. Being strong enough to deal with Garcia afterward may be the harder one.

Michael Collins is a senior writer at Boxing247.com (East Side Boxing) and has covered world championship boxing since 2012. Respected for his measured reporting and technical insight, he delivers expert analysis on elite fighters, contenders, and the evolving global fight landscape.
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Boxing • Boxing News • Conor Benn May Make 147, But What Will Be Left?
Last Updated on 2026/08/09 at 9:57 PM
















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