Conor Benn, the rising star in the boxing world, is gearing up for his highly anticipated WBC world title shot against Ryan Garcia. In an exclusive interview with Ring Magazine, Benn offers a captivating insight into his mindset and the motivations behind this fight, setting it apart from his previous high-profile battles with the Eubank family.
A Different Kind of Motivation
When asked about the differences between his training camp for this fight and the intense, emotionally charged preparation for his Eubank fights, Benn highlights a crucial distinction: "Very different from the Eubank fight. I think going up to 160 was a fight in itself, was an unknown, was something different, was something new. And it was also a family feud, there as hatred, there was spite, and I pray people don’t have to go to that place that I had to go to in that camp and in the actual fight itself."
He continues, "I went to the well and back, and no doubt that fight took part of my soul. But it just proves that I can go there with a bigger man. So, for me, it just fills me with confidence for the fight I’m about to go into."
The absence of the personal and familial animosity that fueled the Eubank fights is a notable change for Benn. He emphasizes that this fight is about the belt and the opportunity to become the number one contender, a drive that is "very different" from the intense, personal battles with the Eubanks.
Public Beef and the Clinical Performance
Benn's public exchanges with Garcia, marked by a slight beef, are fueled by the desire to get the belt. He states, "He’s got the belt I want. He’s in the way. So for me, that’s what this is. And he wants to say he wants to take it lightly, and the disrespect, for me it’s just about going in there and doing what I do, which is putting on a clinical performance."
The focus on a clinical performance is a strategic approach for Benn, who aims to showcase his skills and dominance in the ring. Despite the public tension, he maintains a professional stance, emphasizing the importance of delivering a strong performance.
Personal vs. Family Pride
When reflecting on the difference between beating Eubank and winning a world title, Benn acknowledges the special nature of the Eubank fights, "Beating Eubank, there will always be something special about that. There will always be something special about the first fight. I preferred the first fight over the second, it was a fight of the year and only Eubank could’ve taken me there...In terms of theatrics and drama and chaos, it was a movie."
However, he emphasizes the personal significance of winning a world title, "Winning the world title, for myself is very personal whereas the Eubank fights were for the family name, for family pride, it was for DNA, for bragging rights. This right here is for myself, something I always wanted to achieve, something I always wanted to win is that world title win and not just be a #1 contender or world level, but being world champion."
Garcia's Quitting Instincts
In a revealing comment, Benn questions Garcia's fighting spirit, "Did he quit? As a fighter I can say he did. With Rolly, did he go in his shell once he got clipped? He did. And our DNA’s just different, our makeup is completely different. I’m going to go out swinging and I’m going to go out on my shield, always."
This insight into Benn's perspective adds a layer of complexity to the upcoming fight, suggesting a potential psychological edge that he believes he possesses over Garcia.
