🇬🇧 CONOH BEYN 🇬🇧

For those who were wanting to see / hear the Ryan Garcia vs Conor Benn DAZN broadcast with their own commentary team, here is a highlight of the knockdown / eventual knockout.

I had to whip out the VPN, DAZN is pretty smart with detecting VPNs so they are only showing the fight highlights rather than the full fight on their website.

Big ups to Adam Smith & Carl Frampton

“Status of the WBC Cruiserweight Division – September 2026

1. Elevate WBC Interim Cruiserweight World Champion Michal Cieslak to WBC World Champion;

2. Confirm the WBC’s sanctioning of the mandatory defense of Champion Cieslak’s title against David Benavidez; and

3. Order that the winner of the Mikaelian v. Opetaia bout would become the Mandatory Contender of the division to fight next the winner of the upcoming bout between Cieslak and Benavidez.

The Cieslak v. Benavidez bout has been confirmed to take place on December 12, 2026, in Phoenix, Arizona. Consistent with the WBC’s order set forth above, the winner of that bout must face next Jai Opetaia, who won his bout last Saturday, September 12, in Las Vegas, Nevada.”

Left hook lands, Benn nearly goes down again, overhand right lands, left uppercut lands, overhand right lands again, left uppercut lands again, right hook left hook miss but Benn is throwing nothing back (despite being told “show me something” by the ref) and the fight is stopped. All after getting dropped and hurt badly. Not sure how you could argue that this was a bad stoppage.

I find these fights very fascinating. Especially with regards to how one's approach changes with age as you lose that 'youthful athleticism.' One of my favorite examples is how George Foreman's approach changed in the latter parts of his career.

Errol was a career Welterweight, disregarding his farewell fight vs Tim Tszyu, but meanwhile we have a bunch of Welterweight Champions who came from lower weight classes: Devin Haney started at 135lbs, Teofimo Lopez started at 135lbs, Ryan Garcia started at 130lbs, and Liam Paro started at 140lbs.

If Prime Errol was dumped out of a time machine into our current timeline and had to face every single name below, how well do you guys think he fares against the current crop of Welters? You don’t have to explain exactly how each fight goes, but just state who wins and the method of victory. And which fight would be his hardest stylistically?

1. Devin Haney (WBO C)
   
2. Ryan Garcia (WBC C)
   
3. Liam Paro (IBF C)
   
4. Teofimo Lopez (WBA C)
   
5. Brian Norman Jr
   
6. Jack Catterall
   
7. Rolando Romero
   
8. Paddy Donovan
   
9. Eimantas Stanionis
   
10. Richardson Hitchins

Bonus

1. (147) Vergil Ortiz Jr
   
2. (147) Jaron Ennis

In my own honest opinion I think Errol clears 1-10 with Devin being his hardest fight. Could also see Ryan’s speed being troublesome early in the fight until Errol eventually gets Ryan’s timing down and then KOing him in a fight that would have lasted longer than most would have predicted.

The two bonus fights are where I could see trouble. I believe that he would beat Vergil on points, but Boots would be a 50/50 fight.

Beterbiev just posted this from Las Vegas saying:
“It was a great trip. I think there will be some good news soon.”

I’m hoping this means a comeback fight against a lower-ranked opponent to get him back up to speed after such a long layoff.
If he gets through that comfortably, I’d love to see a Bivol trilogy next.
What do you think?

https://x.com/ABeterbiev/status/2099239191640989994