Conor Benn showed off a dramatic 32lb weight gain within hours of making weight for his WBC welterweight title fight against Ryan Garcia, after describing his cut to the 147lb limit as being "dragged down to the pits of hell."
The British boxer, 29, weighed in at 146lb (66kg) on Friday for Saturday's bout in Las Vegas, half a pound heavier than the American champion Garcia. Twelve hours later, Benn revealed on social media that he had added 32lb, taking him to 12st 10lb (80.73kg).
According to Darshan Desai of EverythingBoxing, posting on X, Benn had rehydrated to 178.4lb, a rise of 32.4lb including clothing, within ten hours of the weigh-in.
Speaking at a ceremonial event in front of fans later on Friday, Benn already appeared noticeably bigger, with his face and shoulders having filled out. "Did it look hard? How did I look?" he asked. "We'll see tomorrow night how good I really feel."
Benn had previously said he could weigh as much as 12st 7lb (80kg) by the time he stepped into the ring on Saturday evening, at around 4am Sunday UK time.
Return to welterweight
Benn has not fought at welterweight for more than four years, having moved up through the divisions before competing at middleweight during his two-fight rivalry with Chris Eubank Jr. For the biggest fight of his career, challenging Garcia for the World Boxing Council title, he has had to come all the way back down.
"It feels like I've been dragged down to the pits of hell, had a fight with Satan and God brought me back to life," he told BBC Sport earlier this week. "Making weight has been the hardest thing I've done. I haven't made weight for four and a half years so it's going to be hard."
Concerns over the cut
Whether the weight cut affects Benn's strength and power will be one of the central questions of Saturday's fight. Garcia has suggested Benn's drop back down in weight could leave him vulnerable, but Benn dismissed the concern when he spoke to Daily Mail Sport earlier this week.
"You think I've been up at middleweight, mixed it with someone who's competed at super middleweight? You think I'm worried about what a lightweight can do to me?" he said. "You think I'm concerned in the slightest about this guy? I'm not concerned about one little thing he brings to the table… that silly left hook of his is useless. He can bring whatever he wants. It don't concern me."
Garcia claimed the WBC title with a dominant points victory over Mario Barrios in February and is making the first defence of his belt against Benn.
The Eubank rivalry
Benn's unusual route to this fight has been shaped by his rivalry with Eubank Jr. Their first meeting, at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in April 2025, was the culmination of years of animosity between the two families, with Benn and Eubank inheriting a rivalry that began with their fathers in 1990. That fight was contested at a catchweight above 160lb, with Benn stepping up significantly from his usual division, and Eubank won a close decision.
Benn won the rematch by unanimous decision at the same venue in November, dropping Eubank twice in the final round to level the rivalry at one win apiece. He said the build-up to the Garcia fight bears no resemblance to those two nights. "This is nothing like the Eubank fight," he said. "The Eubank fight, there was nothing pleasant or friendly or fake about the Eubank fight. There was a lot more raw emotion in that fight and I let that get the better of me the first time. That won't happen here."
Records and rivalry of words
Garcia has won 25 of his 28 professional fights, including 20 by knockout, with two defeats and one no-contest. Benn has 25 wins, 14 by knockout, and one defeat.
Benn had little time for his opponent. "He just carries on like a spoiled brat, like a big child who throws his toys out of the pram," he said. "I'm not worried about him in the slightest. If anything, I'm gonna have a bit of fun with him. He's a little bit sensitive, highly emotional, and a little bit insecure."
Drug testing history
There is also an uncomfortable shared history between the two men over drugs testing. Benn's original 2022 fight with Eubank was cancelled after he returned two adverse findings for clomifene, which he has consistently denied intentionally taking. Garcia later returned an adverse finding for ostarine following his 2024 victory over Devin Haney, which he also denied taking intentionally.
Both men were asked at the fight's press conference whether they were concerned the other could use performance-enhancing drugs. Neither appeared keen to make it a central issue, with the focus returning instead to the fight itself.
"A step too far"
Garcia has also questioned whether Benn's career has prepared him for this level of opposition, arguing that the Briton is taking a step too far by challenging for a world title. Benn's response was blunt.
"How is this too far? He quit against Tank Davis. He got outclassed by Rolly (Romero), and then got a world title shot with Barrios," he said. "Then there is me. Stepping up to fight the contenders up at middleweight, fight of the year up at middleweight, avenging my loss. Two big stadium shows. Just come off beating a two-time former world champion and having to make 147, which again I ain't made in four years in six weeks. What's he talking about? Ultimately, who cares what he thinks? I don't listen to quitters anyway."
