Frank Smith Admits Benn’s Obligatory Spot Lacks Certainty

Sports

February 4, 2026

Frank Smith’s recent updates on Conor Benn make it clear that while Benn holds a mandatory spot, Matchroom is operating on a curve. What started as a direct march toward a belt now looks like a game of managing variables. Even with the WBC mandatory status in his pocket, Benn is navigating a division where nothing is guaranteed.

Smith emphasized that the goal is still a world title at 147 pounds. He told talkSport Boxing that the team is confident Benn can hit the welterweight limit safely. The primary focus remains the WBC route, especially with the Mario Barrios and Ryan Garcia fight scheduled for February 21. As the mandatory challenger, Benn should be next in line for the winner.

However, Smith admitted they cannot bank on that path alone. He specifically noted the unpredictability of Ryan Garcia, suggesting that if Garcia wins, the situation could get messy. “We know with Ryan Garcia, he sometimes can go off radar. So, we’re not looking at just that option,” Smith.

“I do believe in May or June, we’ll look to make that Romero fight,” Smith said. “I think by the end of the year, you can see him in a unification fight in the welterweight division.”

This shift in strategy is why Matchroom is already eyeing the WBA belt. Smith mentioned that a fight with Rolando Romero is a very strong possibility. Instead of sitting around for the WBC to sort itself out, the team is actively looking at Romero as a way to secure a title on their own terms.

The timeline is moving fast. Smith expects the Romero fight to happen in May or June. He even went as far as to say he sees Benn in a unification bout by the end of 2026. It is an ambitious plan, but it also highlights how fluid the situation is right now.

Benn has the rankings and the status, but Smith’s comments show that those things only go so far. Matchroom is treating flexibility as a requirement. Benn’s next step will not be decided by formal paperwork, but by which champion is actually ready to step into the ring when the time comes.

Olly Campbell has been covering boxing since 2014, offering readers a clear ringside perspective and thoughtful analysis on many of the sport’s biggest nights. His work focuses on fighter tendencies, corner adjustments, and the technical details that shape high-level bouts. Over the years, Olly has reported on major cards in Las Vegas, New York, London, and across the UK boxing circuit, earning a reputation for levelheaded, detail-driven coverage.

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