Conor Benn will never box at featherweight again, says trainer Tony Sims.
Benn returned to 147 pounds to challenge Ryan Garcia for the WBC world lightweight championship, but was knocked down heavily and stopped on his feet in the second round.
“There are no excuses,” Sims said Sky Sports. “It was hard to make weight, of course it was. He’ll never lie about it.
“But he had a good camp, the sparring the week before went really well, he was in his right mind, listen he just got caught with a punch. In world boxing, that’s what happens.”
Sims, however, confirmed that Garcia was Benn’s last fight at welterweight: “Without a doubt. He did well making the weight, but it wasn’t easy.”
He added: “But the size of the fight, the amount of money that was on the table, he wouldn’t have gotten it anywhere else, fighting anybody else. So sometimes you have to take risks.”
Benn’s trainer was surprised the stoppage in Garcia’s fight came when it did.
“It was a fantastic shot that he (Benn) got caught with and he did well to really jump off it,” Sims said.
“I thought he did the right thing, Conor. He grabbed him, held him and he was slipping and sliding on the ropes.
“I think the stop was a bit premature but the actual shot that nailed it was a brilliant strike.
Conor Benn with Ryan Garcia after their fight in Las Vegas (Photo: Zuffa Boxing)
“It is what it is, you’re not going to make excuses for it.
“It was just a shame that a fight of that magnitude wasn’t allowed to go on a little longer.”
Benn moving up to middleweight or super middleweight could pave the way for a third fight against Chris Eubank Jr.
The sons of arch-rivals Nigel Benn and Chris Eubank, Benn and Eubank Jr boxed twice at middleweight last year. Benn lost the first but won the second bout. A third decisive contest may be held.
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Speaking on Toe2Toe, Barry Jones reflects on Conor Benn’s loss to Ryan Garcia
“That fight will always be there, whether it’s for one year or 10 years. Because of the names together, the fight will always be there,” Sims said.
“Whether Conor will want to do it or Chris will want to do it in the future, I don’t know, but this fight will always be there. The two names will always be combined together.
“But I don’t think you’ll see Conor talking much about boxing for a while,” added Sims.
“I think he needs to take a break from boxing right now,” Sims added. “Don’t get me wrong, financially he’s set for life, but I think he’s also burned out at the same time, mentally and physically.”