Benn had earlier made his expectation clear. He said Garcia would win and openly embraced the idea of fighting him next, stating, “No doubt [it will be] Garcia. So, Garcia-Benn. I like the sound of that.” Garcia represented the more commercially attractive opponent, and Benn had already positioned himself as the mandatory challenger waiting for the result.
That expectation has now been replaced by certainty in the opposite direction. Benn is predicting Garcia will lose, and he has said so without qualification.
“You lot think I’m joking… I bet any money Barrios stops Garcia. I bet you any money,” Benn said on social media. “[Garcia] is gonna fumble the bag.”
The firmness in Benn’s pick jumped out. He did not soften it. He flipped his stance and nailed it down, moving from riding with Garcia to calling for Garcia to come up short, and he did it with fight night close enough to feel the wraps. That kind of turn travels fast in a tight welterweight mix.
Benn’s ground at 147 stays firm whatever happens in the ring. He sits as mandatory and has said he is coming for the winner. That keeps him locked onto the belt. If Barrios walks out with the WBC strap, Benn presses for his shot at a reigning champion. If Garcia lifts it, Benn shifts his aim straight at the new man holding gold. He remains parked in the title lane either way.
Barrios holds the WBC welterweight belt after claiming the vacant strap when Terence Crawford moved on. Garcia steps in as challenger, still chasing his first title at the weight. Benn has put himself on deck for whoever survives, though the late change in his call suggests his early confidence in Garcia thinned as the rounds drew nearer.
#Conor #Benn #Predicts #Mario #Barrios #Knocks #Ryan #Garcia
