Cutting that last bit of weight presents a test Benn hasn’t dealt with in years.
“Conor has not boxed at 147 for four years,” Duke McKenzie said to talkSPORT Boxing. “When you’re trying to make weight, and you have to drag to make weight, it takes away your A-game.”
McKenzie believes the problem won’t disappear simply because Benn can rehydrate after stepping on the scale.
“I don’t think Conor Benn’s going to be physically strong enough because I think he’d be weight drained,” McKenzie said. “Even if you’re eating all night long, there’s still only so much weight you can put on.”
The Prograis fight makes the concern harder to dismiss.
Spencer Oliver noted that Benn made 150 for that contest and felt his punching power had already declined compared with what he showed against Eubank at 160. Trimming another three pounds requires taking weight off a body that hasn’t competed at the division limit in years.
“The last three pounds, as you guys know, making weight and how difficult that is, that last three pounds to the normal guy is like losing three stones and it will take a lot out of him,” Oliver said. “I think we saw against Regis Prograis that 147’s going to be difficult for Conor Benn.”
Paul Smith sees another potential issue. Benn’s size should theoretically give him an advantage, but Smith believes getting that larger body down to the limit may have the opposite effect.
“I think it’ll be his downfall because he hasn’t made it for so long,” Smith said.
Benn has shown serious power in this division in the past. The question is how effectively he can produce it after years of competing at higher weights.
Hitting 147 is only the first test. Being strong enough to deal with Garcia afterward may be the harder one.
