Dave Allen has predicted how compatriot Conor Benn will fare if he faces Ryan Garcia later this year.

Both pairs are to break off contact with each other before the end of 2026, but the date and place of their fight for the world title have not been officially announced.

It was also reported earlier this week that Garcia’s promoter, Golden Boy, did so sent a cease and desist letter to Zuffa Boxing and TKO Groupwho represent Benn.

It is alleged that Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing never obtained consent from Golden Boy to proceed with the fight between Benn and Garcia, who is reportedly still under contract with Oscar De La Hoya’s promotional team.

At the same time, White stated at the Zuffa Boxing 07 post-fight press conference that announcements were imminent regarding the Garcia-Benn fight, which is scheduled to take place in Las Vegas.

This would mean “King Ry” will make his first defense of the WBC welterweight title he won by unanimous decision over Mario Barrios in February.

Meanwhile, Benn is the mandatory challenger for the WBC 147-pound title, even though he hasn’t made that weight since stopping Chris van Heerden in the second round in 2022.

Regardless of weight though, he’s a British heavyweight Allen made the prediction on social media that Garcia will be a level or two above his potential opponent.

“At first glance, I can’t imagine Conor being good enough to beat Garcia. Conor is a good fighter, don’t get me wrong.

“I think he’s good, he’s really athletic, but [I] just place Garcia in the top bracket. In my opinion, it will be possible to stop Garcia. I think it’s probably a level or two above where we saw Conor. But it’s an captivating fight.”

Indeed, Benn has yet to establish himself as a world-class operator, even after back-to-back points victories over faded versions of Chris Eubank Jr and Regis Prograis.

“This man said he wanted the number 144,” Bill told Fight Hub TV. “He said, ‘We’ve got to sit down like businessmen and make this happen,’ right? Well, we’ve already sat down like businessmen. We’re ready to make it happen.”

Elder Haney also rejected suggestions that the catchweight proposal would represent a sudden change of plans.

“It’s not so sudden. 144 is a welterweight. Are you crazy or what?” Haney said. “At welterweight, we range from 140 to 147.”

As the conversation turned to Keyshawn Davis and his position as a top contender for the WBO title, Haney repeatedly pointed to what he believed to be a better opportunity.

“What is the most significant boxing fight going on right now?” Haney asked. “Shakur Stevenson and Devin Haney.”

Haney acknowledged that Davis remains part of the bigger picture, but pointed out that Stevenson’s matchup has been years in the making.

“This case has been brewing for seven, eight, nine, 10 years, whatever it was,” Haney said. “Just rest and we’ll get it done. He’s on the list. He was on the list before he was on the list, and he’ll stay on the list.”

Time will tell if the fight comes to fruition, but Bill Haney’s comments were perhaps the strongest indication yet that Team Haney is sedate about racing Stevenson at the proposed catchweight of 144 pounds.

The situation could become more complicated if the WBO formally orders Haney to fulfill his mandatory obligation to Davis. Until then, it appears the Haneys are turning their attention to what they believe is the biggest fight available.

Potential negotiations between Devin Haney and Shakur Stevenson have taken another public turn after Stevenson accused his rival of engaging in “false public negotiations” following Haney’s latest comments on social media.

Haney appeared frustrated after previously agreeing to Stevenson’s proposed catchweight of 144 pounds, suggesting that even accepting those terms did not bring the fight any closer to becoming a reality.

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Last update: 2026/06/12 at 21:45