Eddie Hearn has come to the defense of the WBC’s controversial decision to designate Conor Benn as the next mandatory challenger for the welterweight title—despite Benn not fighting at 147 pounds for more than three years.
During the WBC’s annual convention in Thailand last week, the sanctioning body confirmed Benn would be ordered to face the winner of the upcoming championship clash between Mario Barrios and Ryan Garcia. The announcement drew immediate criticism, largely due to Benn campaigning at middleweight throughout 2024, including two bouts with Chris Eubank Jr., the second of which Benn won at a career-heavy 159¼ pounds.