Conor Benn comeback? WBO champion Denzel Bentley says Conor Benn can 'skip the queue' for middleweight world title shot
Conor Benn suffered a devastating two-round defeat in Las Vegas when he challenged Ryan Garcia for the WBC welterweight world title at the weekend; but Benn could now return to middleweight and WBO 160lb world champion Denzel Bentley has offered him a shot at his title
Tuesday 15 September 2026 16:18, UK
Conor Benn could get another world title shot if he returns to action at middleweight.
Denzel Bentley, the WBO world champion at 160lbs, is open to fighting Benn.
Benn twice boxed his family rival, Chris Eubank Jr, at middleweight before boiling back down to welterweight to challenge Ryan Garcia for the WBC title.
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Garcia hammered Benn inside two rounds, with Benn now expected to return to middleweight.
Bentley, elevated to full world champion after claiming the WBO interim title with a storming performance against Endry Saavedra in April, would relish the prospect of defending his belt against Benn.
"Although the public might not think he deserves another world title shot in my eyes I feel like his profile is big enough for him to skip the queue," Bentley told Sky Sports.
"It's unfair but that's the sport we're in. Obviously it's beneficial for me, especially financially, so 100 per cent that's the fight I would take. I've never had any beef with Conor, we've always been cool.
"But if he is coming to the 160lb division, he goes from a companion to a potential challenger," he added.
"Firstly he needs to get himself right, well and fit. I think he should take a lot of time off and recover. I don't think there's any rush for him to get back into a boxing ring or even a gym. That weight cut was a fight in itself for him I think. Probably took a lot out of himself.
"Once he's well and fit, if he decides to move up to 160lbs and he does want the challenge, I think that's probably a conversation we can probably have ourselves: 'If you want to do this, let's push for it.'"
Bentley though had a warning for him. "I think I'm dangerous for anyone. I'm a lot bigger than him and I can punch."
But he added: "I think he will be a lot better with the extra weight.
"I think at 160lbs he'll be a lot more fuelled. But, listen, I punch as well and there were a lot of flaws in his game that night that I could exploit."
Watch Johnny Fisher vs Michael Pirotton live on Sky Sports on September 26.
