LAS VEGAS — Trainer Tony Sims has addressed the second-round knockout defeat suffered by Conor Benn against Ryan Garcia earlier this month. The bout, which saw Garcia successfully retain his WBC welterweight title, ended abruptly when Benn was caught by a decisive right hand, cutting short his first world title challenge.
Reflecting on the tactical approach, Sims noted that the game plan centered on applying pressure and working inside to neutralize Garcia’s reach and speed. “Really, he just got caught with an unbelievable shot, that’s boxing,” Sims told Ring Magazine. “The plan was to put Ryan under pressure and try and work inside. He was always looking to try and defend against the left hook, and he got caught with an unbelievable right hand.”
Despite the outcome, Sims expressed satisfaction with Benn’s performance during the opening round, where he successfully landed body shots. While Sims suggested the referee’s stoppage was premature, he emphasized that there were no excuses for the result. Benn is now reportedly planning a move to the middleweight division, with a potential future target of a trilogy bout against Chris Eubank Jr. at super-middleweight.
Ryan Garcia, meanwhile, has expressed interest in a potential title defense in December, while continuing to advocate for a unification bout against Teofimo Lopez in 2027.