Boxing

Turki supports Shakur Stevenson after Benn defeated Prograis

Published

5 months ago

April 11, 2026

Image: Turki Alalshikh Backs Shakur Stevenson After Benn Win

Prograis certainly left a mark. Benn held his own, but he didn’t look like a guy to be wary of right now. More like someone who had to deal with a faded, smaller opponent.

It was a predatory move. Shakur Stevenson is one of the smartest ring generals today, and that intelligence clearly extends to the business side of the sport. He smelled blood in the water.

Benn got a victory today, but it was the kind of victory that lowered his stock rather than raised it. Standing on his hind legs right after the final bell, Shakur took over the narrative: Instead of talking about Benn fighting the 37-year-old Prograis, the boxing world started talking about Stevenson vs. Benn.

He forced Turki Alalshikh to his hand. By tagging the most powerful man in boxing, Shakur has secured a public endorsement that essentially puts him above Benn in the eyes of the check-signer.

Stevenson hasn’t been linked to Benn in recent weeks, but the performance opened the door for him. Benn won, but his rival was a 37-year-old opponent who was gaining weight and was clearly tired. The rounds were competitive and Benn did not distinguish himself in the way that might have been expected against his level of competition at this stage.

Stevenson expressed his opinion directly on social media: “If he lasts 12 rounds with me, I will be disappointed in myself 😂.”

Turki Alalshikh replied: “You are the best in your division now, there is no doubt about it👍🏻🥊.”

At 140 and 147, this version of Benn would fight some top names who operate at a faster pace and cleaner striking. Even some fighters at 135 would pose problems given the technical requirements.

Today’s performance suggests that the evolution we have been hearing about for years is mainly promotional language.

Benn seems to have hit a plateau. Against a faded background, Prograis still struggled with the same fundamental problems that had accompanied him from the beginning. He still prefers to throw challenging shots rather than set them up with sophisticated jabs or feints.

When Conor isn’t throwing, he’s a target. We saw this over and over again tonight. He lacks the head movement and footwork to deal with elite counter punchers at 140 and 147. When Plan A of physical intimidation doesn’t immediately take his opponent to the ground, it doesn’t look like he’s looking for a Plan B.

Tonight, Benn showed that he is a world-class fighter, touted as a superstar, and Shakur Stevenson took notice. If he can’t dominate a 37-year-old who’s making weight, how will he survive the 147 shark?

Olly Campbell is a boxing journalist covering this sport since 2014, providing reports from the ring and technical analyzes of the most essential fights. His work focuses on fighter tendencies, tactical adjustments and the details that shape high-level competition.

Boxing

Conor Benns Fight Day Weight: The Risks of Extreme Weight Cutting in Boxing

Published

3 hours ago

September 12, 2026

The Punch Junkie™ News

"Conor Benn's Fight Day Weight: The Risks of Extreme Weight Cutting in Boxing"

Conor Benn answered the biggest question surrounding his return to welterweight by weighing 146 pounds for Ryan Garcia, almost a full pound below the limit.

Benn left nothing to chance after months of questions over whether he could get back down to 147 pounds. But what happened after he stepped off the scales made the weight debate even more interesting.

DAZN reported Benn at 178.4 pounds after rehydrating, a staggering 32.4-pound difference from his official weight.

If accurate, the difference between Benn’s official and reported weights was more than 22 percent of his weigh-in body weight.

Benn Gains 32.4 Pounds

That’s where the real concern over Benn’s weight begins.

Coming in almost a full pound under the limit showed there was no appetite to take any chances by getting close to 147.

Questions had already been raised about what getting back down to welterweight would take.

Former opponent Regis Prograis previously said Benn “looks small” and hoped the weight was not “draining him already” after seeing his transformation ahead of the Garcia fight.

Those concerns were addressed when Benn stepped on the scales with room to spare. However, the DAZN figure showed the other side of making welterweight.

Zuffa Boxing received approval from the Nevada State Athletic Commission for an unusually early 9 a.m. PT official weigh-in, giving Benn and Garcia considerably more time to eat, drink, rehydrate and recover before fight night.

For Benn, DAZN’s reported second weight represented an extraordinary change from his official weigh-in figure.

Reaction was immediate. One commenter asked, “How is that possible to do after a couple of hours?” Another wanted someone to “explain how he gained 32 lbs in a few hours.”

Weight Cutting Dangers

Benn did nothing wrong. He made the contracted weight and did it comfortably.

The wider issue is what fighters continue to put their bodies through to make those limits.

The Association of Ringside Physicians has warned that rapid weight loss and dehydration can affect cardiovascular and neurological function, among other areas. The organization has also stated that proper rehydration can take hours or even days.

That warning puts Benn’s dramatic change into perspective. Fighters can make the required limit, begin replacing everything lost during the cut and enter the ring considerably heavier than they were on the official scales.

The early weigh-in gave Benn even more time to recover, but it does not change what his two reported weights say about the process required to compete at welterweight.

Benn did everything required of him and comfortably made the limit. The concern is how far fighters continue to push their bodies to get there in the first place.

About the Author

Phil Jay is the Editor-in-Chief of World Boxing News (WBN), a BWAA-acknowledged boxing news website founded in 2010. A veteran boxing reporter with 16 years of experience, he has interviewed world champions, broken international exclusives, and reported ringside from major events. His work is published worldwide through WBN and distributed on platforms including Apple News.

Read Phil Jay’s full bio and latest stories.

Boxing

Ryan Garcia vs. Conor Benn Weigh-In Results: What to Expect in the Ring

Published

4 hours ago

September 12, 2026

The Punch Junkie™ News

Ryan Garcia vs. Conor Benn Weigh-In Results: What to Expect in the Ring

WBC welterweight champion Ryan Garcia (25-2, 20 KOs) defends his title against Conor Benn (25-1, 14 KOs) this Saturday, September 12, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The match will headline a Mexican Independence weekend normally reserved for Mexican superstar Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez.

For Conor, it’s his first fight at welterweight in more than four years. He last fought at welterweight against Chris Van Heerden in April of 2022. For Ryan, it’s his second welterweight bout after having defeated Mario Barrios in February of this year.

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There was much back-and-forth about whether Benn would make the welterweight limit of 147 pounds, since he had fought Chris Eubank twice at 160 pounds and grown into the middleweight division. In his match in April against Regis Prograis, he trimmed down to 150 pounds, and based on his performance in that fight, many believed he would struggle to lose an additional three pounds for this one.

The official weigh-in took place this morning at the Meta Apex, and Conor Benn made weight, proving all the doubters wrong, weighing 146 pounds, while Ryan Garcia came in at 145.5 pounds.

Official Weigh-In Results:

12 Rounds — WBC Welterweight Championship Match: Ryan Garcia (145.5 lbs.) vs Conor Benn (146 lbs.)

12 Rounds — WBC/Zuffa/Ring Cruiserweight Championship Match: Jai Opetaia (199 lbs.) vs Noel Mikaelian (200 lbs.)

8 Rounds — Heavyweight: Da’Mazion Vanhouter (231.5 lbs.) vs Raphael Akpejiori (246 lbs.)

10 Rounds — Lightweight: Mark Magsayo (134.5 lbs.) vs Andres Cortes (135 lbs.)

6 Rounds — Lightweight: Oswaldo Molina (131.5 lbs.) vs Pablo Rubio (131 lbs.)

8 Rounds — Super Middleweight: Abel Gonzalez (167.5 lbs.) vs Raul Salomon (167 lbs.)

6 Rounds — Super Welterweight: Vlad Panin (151.5 lbs.) vs Dakota Linger (150.5 lbs.)

10 Rounds — Welterweight: Jose Ramirez (146.5 lbs.) vs Alexis Rocha (146.5 lbs.)

6 Rounds — Lightweight: Sean Garcia (134 lbs.) vs. Abraham Morales (134 lbs.)

Image: Ryan Garcia vs. Conor Benn: Weigh-In Results — LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – SEPTEMBER 11: during the Garcia v Benn ceremonial weigh-ins at T-Mobile Paramount+ Plaza on September 11, 2026. (Photo by Ed Mulholland/Zuffa Boxing)

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Last Updated on 2026/09/12 at 4:12 AM

Boxing

Don King Removes WBC Belt from Mikaelian-Opetaia Fight: What It Means for Boxing

Published

4 hours ago

September 12, 2026

The Punch Junkie™ News

"Don King Removes WBC Belt from Mikaelian-Opetaia Fight: What It Means for Boxing"

By Boxing News 24 Desk – 09/11/2026 – Comments

Jai Opetaia may defeat WBC cruiserweight champion Noel Mikaelian on Saturday night without being allowed to claim his title. What was presented as a unification fight could now proceed with only Opetaia’s Ring Magazine and Zuffa Boxing belts available.

“Don King reports that the WBC cruiserweight title will not be on the line in the Mikaelian vs. Opetaia fight this Saturday. Let’s wait for what the organization officially says,” Rodriguez on X.

Opetaia and Mikaelian are scheduled to meet in the co-feature of the Ryan Garcia–Conor Benn card at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Removing the WBC title would take much of the historical value from the matchup. Opetaia can establish himself as the better fighter and beat the reigning WBC champion, yet leave the arena no closer to becoming undisputed. That is a poor result for a cruiserweight division already divided among several champions.

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The WBC had ordered Mikaelian to face WBA and WBO champion David Benavidez. Mikaelian instead accepted the Opetaia fight after a deal with Benavidez was not completed, placing his title status in danger.

King has also sent a cease-and-desist letter to Zuffa Boxing and TKO Group Holdings. His promotional company claims it holds an exclusive agreement with Mikaelian and did not authorize the Opetaia fight. Hehas already lost the IBF title without being defeated in the ring after the organization refused to sanction his fight with Brandon Glanton. The Australian may now be denied an opportunity to win the WBC belt for similar reasons involving sanctioning rules and promotional control.

Nothing changes about the difficulty of Saturday’s fight. Mikaelian remains a capable, experienced cruiserweight who defeated Badou Jack in their December rematch. The difference is that Opetaia may receive considerably less for beating him.

Until the WBC releases an official ruling, Mikaelian remains its cruiserweight champion. If King’s information is accurate, however, the fight has gone from a meaningful unification to another example of boxing preventing its leading cruiserweights from settling the division inside the ring.

BoxingNews24.com has delivered independent boxing coverage since 2007, including original news, fight analysis, schedules, and results. Our experienced boxing writers cover major fighters and events worldwide, with published content reviewed by editors for accuracy, clarity, and reliable sourcing.

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