The seemingly never-ending saga surrounding Conor Benn vs Ryan Garcia has hit another obstacle, and this time the disagreement appears to be taking place outside the ring.
Oscar De La Hoya has criticised Zuffa Boxing and Dana White’s involvement in negotiations, claiming the UFC boss and his new venture are making the fight harder to finalise. Instead of talking about dates, venues and purses, boxing fans are once again watching promoters and business interests clash.
And if we’re being honest, Oscar De La Hoya might actually have a point.
Conor Benn vs Ryan Garcia Should Be Simple
On paper, Conor Benn vs Ryan Garcia is not a difficult fight to understand.
They’re both big names. They’re both controversial figures. They’re both coming off disappointing periods in their careers, and they’re both capable of generating huge interest.
This isn’t some obscure fight that needs selling. The public already knows who they are.
Yet boxing somehow manages to make straightforward things complicated.
Instead of fans debating tactics and styles, they’re once again left wondering whether boxing politics will get in the way.
Dana White Knows How To Sell A Spectacle
As much as I agree with Oscar De La Hoya regarding the complications, there is one thing that cannot be denied.
Dana White knows how to sell an event.
That’s what he has done throughout his career. Love him or hate him, he understands how to turn a fight into a spectacle. And let’s be honest, Conor Benn vs Ryan Garcia is exactly that.
I’m not convinced it is some elite sporting contest that determines the future of the welterweight division. I think it’s a money fight.
A very big money fight.
But a money fight nonetheless.
And there is nothing wrong with that, provided everybody is honest about what it is.
A Catchweight Fight Benefits Nobody
The biggest issue for me is that this fight will almost certainly need to take place at a catchweight.
I’ve never been a huge fan of catchweight fights because neither man really gains much from them from a sporting perspective.
If you want a better understanding of catchweights and why they sometimes create problems, you can read our guide here:
Sure, both men would earn a fortune.
Sure, the fight would attract massive attention.
But would either boxer move closer to becoming world champion?
Not really.
Would either man establish himself as the best welterweight in the world?
Again, probably not.
It would simply be another high-profile event designed to generate headlines and paydays.
Conor Benn Cannot Live On Big Fights Forever
Perhaps the bigger question concerns Conor Benn himself.
How many major events can he keep having without actually winning a world title?
Because eventually, careers are judged by achievements.
The reality is that Conor Benn vs Ryan Garcia would undoubtedly sell, but another big occasion alone does not build a legacy.
At some point, Benn needs to win a world championship.
Otherwise, there is a danger that history remembers him as a fighter with enormous promise who never quite fulfilled it.
And fair or unfair, comparisons with his father, Nigel Benn, are already happening.
That is the danger.
People do not remember hype forever.
They remember accomplishments.
The Zuffa Boxing Question Isn’t Going Away
The arrival of Dana White and Zuffa Boxing has generated plenty of excitement, but it has also created uncertainty.
We’ve already looked at some of the issues surrounding Conor Benn’s connection with the new promotion here:
If this latest disagreement delays Conor Benn vs Ryan Garcia, it will only add to those concerns.
Will Boxing Politics Kill Another Big Fight?
Hopefully not.
Because despite my reservations, I completely understand why people want to see Conor Benn vs Ryan Garcia.
It’s entertaining.
It’s controversial.
It would generate huge numbers.
And yes, Dana White would probably turn it into one of the biggest spectacles boxing has seen in years.
But boxing has a nasty habit of allowing politics, contracts and egos to overshadow the fights fans actually want.
Hopefully this isn’t another example.
Because if the promoters spend more time fighting each other than the boxers spend preparing, everybody loses.
Join The Conversation
Would you like to see Conor Benn vs Ryan Garcia, or do you think both men should be focusing on winning world titles instead?
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