Former world champion Shawn Porter, who previously shared four rounds of sparring with Conor Benn, wondered how the Briton might fare against Ryan Garcia.

“The Destroyer” scored a comfortable 10-round points victory over Regis Prograis, who appeared on the undercard of Tyson Fury vs. Arslanbek Makhmudov last month.

In doing so, he stayed in the win column at the 150-pound catchweight division after gaining revenge on Chris Eubank Jr in a middleweight rematch last November.

As the top-ranked contender for the WBC welterweight title, Benn is set to drop back down to 147 pounds in pursuit of a fight with Ryan Garcia.

The American won the WBC world title in February dethroning Mario Barrios with a one-sided points victory after knocking down his fighter in the first round.

As a result, Garcia secured his first victory since an eighth-round stoppage of Oscar Duarte in 2023, followed by a no-contest against Devin Haney and a unanimous decision defeat against Rolando Romero.

Hoping for more stable form, the 27-year-old aims to defend his title later this year, possibly in the summer, with mandatory challenger Benn turning out to be his likely opponent.

Porter, however, said Benn is credited with his “versatility.” Boxing King’s Media that he felt Garcia’s speed had the potential to lead to a dramatic ending.

“Based on how Ryan Garcia looked in his last fight, it looks like he beat Conor Benn.

“This clash of styles favors Ryan Garcia because of his speed – because of his outside strength – so it will definitely be a tough fight for Conor Benn.

“I would say 60/40 [that] Ryan Garcia will probably win this fight [by] KO. But Conor is very tough. I already knew this about him, but I had to see it with my own eyes during sparring.

“It is much more versatile than that [what] we saw in the first fight with Eubank. He comes back in the rematch with Eubank and we see his versatility, speed, foot movement and things like that.

“That’s what I saw when I sparred him for four straightforward rounds.”

Despite, or perhaps partly because of, their related history of failed drug tests, the Garcia-Benn showdown is likely to attract significant attention.

Carl Froch gave the final verdict on Fabio Wardley vs. Daniel Duboisanticipating a “delayed” break in heavyweight action.

The pair will headline the Queensberry Promotions pay-per-view card at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester, with Wardley making the first defense of the WBO world title.

After his last appearance, he was promoted from “interim” to full champion Final in the 11th round against Joseph Parkerwhich allowed the former white-collar boxer to establish himself as a top-class heavyweight.

The 31-year-old’s stunning triumph in October was followed by Oleksandr Usyk’s decision to vacate his WBO title rather than face the then mandatory challenger.

Previously, the Ukrainian became a three-time undisputed two-division champion by beating Dubois in a fifth-round rematch last July.

Usyk thus ended an impressive three-fight unbeaten streak for Dubois, which included stoppages over Jarrell Miller, Filip Hrgovic and Anthony Joshua.

Each of these performances showcased the Londoner’s ferocious power and powerful jab, and many believe he has a higher ring IQ than Wardley.

While talking to Fight in your cornerHowever, Hall of Famer Froch emphasized the unconventional nature of Wardley’s style, believing it would be a key factor in their final showdown.

“I’m picking Fabio Wardley to get him delayed. He’s got quite quick hands and he’s clumsy in the way he throws his punches because he comes from [a] mental [background].

“I think Dubois will try to throw that jab – he’s got a great jab. He can land some right hands [but]if then [goes] after five or six rounds, Dubois probably won’t be able to knock [Wardley] with one blow.”

While both heavyweights hit incredibly challenging, the unpredictable angles from which Wardley lands his attacks may be the reason why Froch ultimately sees him as the victor.

Click here to watch Wardley vs. Dubois LIVE!

Due to ongoing talks with Shakur Stevenson and Devin Haney, Zuffa Boxing is close to a major overhaul of the junior welterweight and welterweight divisions. If both deals are completed, the company will suddenly have control of some of boxing’s biggest names in the 140- to 147-pound weight class.

It was reported on Thursday that Stevenson is finalizing an agreement with Zuffa, while Haney continues to fuel speculation of a massive novel endorsement deal following recent comments from his father, Bill Haney.

If both fighters land at Zuffa, they will join a growing stable that already includes Conor Benn and Richardson Hitchins.

That would immediately create some potential internal fights that could attract a lot of attention without the promotional holdouts that often delay substantial boxing bouts.

Friday’s report from Mannix is ​​the strongest confirmation yet that Dana White is moving from acquiring prospects and goaltenders to collecting elite prime-time champions. If Shakur Stevenson completes this move, it will effectively end the “promotional purgatory” he has been in since leaving Top Rank.

Zuffa is quickly building a 140- to 147-pound glove that looks like a UFC division. When securing Shakur, they don’t just hire a technician; they get a fighter who recently dominated Teofimo Lopez in January and holds the WBO and Ring Magazine junior welterweight titles.

Zuffa “Shark Tank” weighing 140-147 pounds

The list is becoming incredibly opulent with talent who struggled to pull off substantial fights under the ancient guard:

• Shakur Stevenson: Division technical floor and seated champion.
• Devin Haney: If this $100 million deal is real, it will become a centerpiece. He is already a three-division champion after receiving the WBO welterweight belt from Brian Norman Jr. in November.
• Conor Benn: The group’s “action” warrior who has huge British eyes and a $15 million price tag.
• Richardson Hitchins: A high IQ operator who just signed a contract and is already calling for a fight with Haney.

Novel reality for Haney vs. Shakur

Haney’s “You’ll See” post is starting to look like a warning to the rest of the industry. For years, promoters shielded the two from each other because a loss would “kill their value.”

In the Zuffa/TKO structure, financed by Saudi capital and led by Nick Khan and Dana White, this protectionism tends to fade away. They operate in a “league” model in which the best players are forced to participate in an internal tournament.

Key factors of a potential matchup

Guaranteed bags: Shakur reportedly turned down $60 million for three fights in March, but Mannix points out the novel “guaranteed money” is too much to ignore. This suggests that Zuffa’s offerings dwarf anything Matchroom or PBC could realistically put out.

Sanctioning Bodies Policy: Zuffa has already shown that they don’t mind stripping players (like Jai Opetaia and Richardson Hitchins) as they build their own brand of “Zuffa Championship.” However, in the event of a Haney-Shakur fight, they could “play ball” with the WBO to maintain undisputed prestige.

Style clash: You have two of the best defensive minds in the sport. Historically, no network has been willing to pay more than $20 million for an “on-track meeting.” But by investing $100 million in Haney, Zuffa is clearly banking on the “Mayweather” business model – selling an “unbeatable” aura, not just highlights.

The possibility of these four facing off is the most significant event in sports because it signals the end of the “sanctioning body era” and the beginning of the “league era.”

If Zuffa follows the UFC’s plan, they won’t care about “protecting O.” They will cover the Zuffa Boxing Championship and live gates at Allegiant Stadium or Sfera. Here’s how this four-way landscape likely shapes up:

1. “Face of the League” match: Haney vs. Shakur
If the rumors about Haney’s $100 million deal and Shakur’s three-fight $60 million offer are true, Zuffa is essentially paying them “Mayweather money.”

Logic: you don’t pay that much money for tuning. This is a “high IQ” megafight. Since Shakur just defeated Teofimo Lopez in January and Haney recently won the WBO welterweight belt, this will likely be Zuffa Undisputed’s inaugural 147 title.

Obstacle: Both are masters of defense. Zuffa can first combine them with aggressive “dance partners” to create highlight reels, and then combine them together.

2. Collision Course: Richardson Hitchins vs. Devin Haney
Hitchins has already been vocal about wanting Haney in 2026.

Plot: Hitchins is a “purist’s darling” who has just vacated the IBF belt to join Zuffa. This is a perfect “internal” competition.

Strategy: Dana White loves plot. If Hitchins continues to call for “the $100 million man,” Zuffa will easily advertise it as a “battle of the techies.”

3. Bridge of Action: Conor Benn
Benn is an exception here. While Shakur, Haney and Hitchins are technical wizards, Benn is an upfront fighter.

Wild Card: Benn will receive a massive $15 million payday against Regis Prograis and a five-fight extension.

Matchup: Benn vs. Shakur is the most intriguing “clash of styles”. It’s classic “Bull vs. Matador”. Mannix even hinted at it as a potential Las Vegas stadium headliner in tardy 2026.

Why mismatches are unlikely

Zuffa’s business model is based on subscription and PPV. To justify Saudi Arabia’s huge investment (reportedly 60% of the venture), they need “event-driven” cards.

Internal Rankings: Expect Zuffa to release its own rankings soon. If Haney is No. 1 and Shakur is No. 2, the league’s structure makes it almost impossible for them to avoid each other for years.

If Stevenson and Haney finalize the deal, Zuffa would immediately take control of several substantial fights at 140-147 pounds without the promotional barriers that have delayed fights across the division for years.