Eddie Hearn has revealed a transatlantic super-fight between Conor Benn and Ryan Garcia could become a reality if the former’s rematch with Chris Eubank Jr fails to materialize later this year.
Speaking exclusively to DailyMail.com 24 hours before Friday night’s unfathomable Ring Magazine show in the heart of Times Square, Hearn gushed over the high-calibre American options that have emerged for Benn on the back of his dramatic war with arch-rival Eubank Jr in London last weekend.
One of them is Garcia, who returns to action after more than a year out in this once-in-a-lifetime event under the bright lights of New York City’s iconic tourist destination, where former world super-lightweight champion Rolando Romero awaits in an intriguing welterweight matchup.
The 26-year-old knockout artist and online sensation has not competed since his explosive victory over bitter nemesis Devin Haney – who also returns on the card against another ex-140lbs champion in Jose Ramirez – was overturned to a no-contest when he failed two drug tests for performance-enhancing drugs the day before and the day of the fight in April last year.
After serving his suspension, the thinking from Saudi royal adviser and boxing supremo Turki Al-Sheikh is for Garcia to meet Haney again in 2025 should they both emerge unscathed Friday night. Yet if that plan goes up in smoke, and a weight-drained Eubank Jr snubs his contracted rematch with Benn, Hearn’s welterweight charge will be raring to go.
Eddie Hearn has revealed a super-fight between Conor Benn and Ryan Garcia could happen
Hearn was speaking to DailyMail.com in the ring ahead of Friday night’s Times Square show
While in the ring as the finishing touches were being applied to the Times Square venue, Hearn confirmed that Garcia is a realistic option for Benn before adding: ‘We’ve signed for the Eubank rematch ourselves and His Excellency [Al-Sheikh] has already said he wants that for the end of September, so we’re in for that fight.
‘But if something was to happen, if Eubank doesn’t fancy it or whatever happens, then we would look to go back to Conor Benn’s weight class, which is 147lbs.’
Benn, who is in New York City for Friday’s event, is seeking a huge scalp across the pond after his stock soared in a terrific scrap with a fighter two weight classes above him, despite the unanimous points defeat he ultimately suffered.
The decision, three identical scores of 116-112 for Eubank, was a contentious one, with many adamant Benn should have got the nod. Though no one could dispute the tremendous entertainment both men provided.
‘I thought it was a very close fight,’ Hearn said. ‘Conor Benn was edging the fight after 10 rounds but he lost the last two pretty heavy.
‘That finish left me getting in the ring going, “I think we might nick a draw here.” But I was disappointed with [three scores of] 116-112.
‘It’s honestly the first time that I’ve lost in a big fight and haven’t been distraught, because I was just in awe of both men.’
Nevertheless, Benn’s standing has skyrocketed both on British soil and Stateside. ‘He’s walking around here, everyone knows who he is out here now after Saturday,’ Hearn continued.
Benn was narrowly beaten by Chris Eubank Jr in a fight for the ages in London last week
It is unclear whether a weight-drained Eubank Jr will agree to their scheduled rematch
If not, Hearn says an American superstar like Garcia, who takes on Rolando Romero (right) in Times Square on Friday night, could be an option for his welterweight charge
‘He’s become a big star in the UK, and he wants those big names; Devin Haney, Ryan Garcia, Boots [Ennis], Teofimo [Lopez].
‘You’re gonna see him in those fights, but we’ll see what plays out with the [Eubank] rematch.’
Garcia cuts a stark contrast this week to the alarmingly erratic character who somehow carved out the greatest performance of his career against Haney in April 2024, before the resulting PED findings rendered it void. In the lead-up to their grudge match, he had also sparked fears for his wellbeing with a series of troubling tirades which at one stage threatened to scupper the whole thing.
As he prepares to take on Romero, the outlandish and confusing rants are nowhere to be seen. A visibly healthier Garcia is back fit and firing, both physically and mentally, which he confesses is the result of cutting out alcohol.
‘Last time he did lose his mind at times in that build-up,’ Hearn said when previewing Garcia’s return on Friday night. ‘Maybe in a sense that can make you more dangerous, I don’t know. But like Devin, he’s returning to the ring after a year out. It’s not great to be that inactive.
‘I think he wins by stoppage, but Romero can fight and he can punch. And I just feel like this Friday’s geared up for drama.’
Hearn is enthralled by the prospect of Friday’s Times Square blockbuster after what he insists was the toughest logistical mission the sport of boxing has ever served up.
Garcia returns to the ring after a year’s suspension for failing drugs tests the day before and the day of his victory over Devin Haney last year (pictured), which was turned to a no-contest
While he has no fighters of his own to root for on Friday night, the British promoter and his Matchroom outfit were tasked with putting this unprecedented event together on behalf of Al-Sheikh and Ring Magazine, the illustrious boxing publication acquired by the Saudi chief last year.
‘When I heard the idea a few months ago I was like, “Surely this won’t actually happen?” And now we’re 24 hours away,’ Hearn admitted. ‘Logistically it’s probably the hardest thing that’s ever had to happen in the sport of boxing.
‘The main thing as a promoter is you’re thinking, this fight card sells out Madison Square Garden, it sells out the Barclays Center. You haven’t got a crowd here, you’ve got some invited guests. You’re leaving all that gate money at the door, but obviously His Excellency had this vision.’
And he is convinced this unique, fantasy-like setting they have created, which will see fighters arrive to make their ring walks via taxis at a venue where only a select group of VIPs will be present, is likely to trigger some surprises in the ring.
‘I’m sure there’ll be an upset in this kind of environment,’ Hearn predicted.
‘A lot of these guys walk out in front of 10,000 or 20,000 people. It kind of reminds you of the Covid era and fighting behind closed doors.’
As for some of the swanky Times Square hotels boasting spectacular birds-eye views of the ring, he joked: ‘They should be selling them for five grand a night over there.’
