Some might argue that ‘burst’ is too final.
It would be unfair not to credit Benn’s in-ring evolution, going from a raw novice who used to take beatings in sparring to becoming one of British boxing’s most recognisable fighters.
There will still be major fights available, not least a potential trilogy with Eubank.
But his next decision now carries greater significance.
Benn had said he planned to move up in weight regardless of Saturday’s result.
With no rehydration clause, he looked strikingly bigger in the ring and had posted footage on Friday evening suggesting he was 32lb heavier than at the official weigh-in, although the figure was not independently verified.
That inevitably reignites debate around extreme weight cutting, but there is also a more immediate sporting concern. If Benn struggled so badly with Garcia’s speed and timing, moving up to face naturally bigger men brings its own dangers.
Zuffa Boxing chief Dana White largely sidestepped that question afterwards.
“Let Conor go home, spend some time with his family, enjoy the success he had this year,” White said. “When he’s ready to come back and lets us know, we’ll figure out what’s next for him.”
Asked whether moving up against bigger opponents could prove even more dangerous, White said: “We’ll see. We’ll see how the whole thing figures out.”
Benn did not attend the post-fight news conference, leaving White to face questions about a fighter Zuffa reportedly paid £11m to sign for his initial deal.
Asked whether Benn had still been worth the money, White bluntly said: “Every penny of it.”
But after Garcia exposed such a sizeable gulf, the road to becoming a world champion suddenly looks considerably longer than it did when he arrived in Las Vegas.
