Conor Benn eyes Manny Pacquiao fight in 2027 after rejecting December offer

Conor Benn has opened the door to a fight with Manny Pacquiao in early 2027 after turning down a December offer following his stoppage defeat by Ryan Garcia.

The British boxer said the proposed date came too soon after his difficult cut to welterweight and the birth of his son. He is interested in facing the eight-division world champion between January and March, but the bout has not been confirmed.

“Always in the gym, always working, if he wants it Q1 next year, we can do it, no problem,” Benn told Sky Sports on Thursday.

Why Conor Benn turned down Pacquiao in December

Benn said he wanted time with his family rather than another immediate training camp after September’s defeat in Las Vegas.

“The fight got presented to me for December and it was just too soon, making weight, got a newborn son, so for me it was really about spending time with my family,” he said.

His objection was to the timing, rather than the opponent. Benn praised Pacquiao’s achievements and said the prospect of another stadium show appealed to him, although no venue has been announced.

Benn vs Pacquiao: weight remains a key question

Benn’s plans for his next weight division leave an important issue to resolve before any Pacquiao fight can be agreed.

He says he will not return to welterweight after struggling to make the 147lb limit for Garcia. Benn also dismissed a move to light-middleweight, saying he sees his future at middleweight.

“My future’s at middleweight,” he said. “I thought about light-middle, there’s nothing in me at light-middle either, that’s how bad the weight cut was.”

Boxing News 24’s report on the proposed bout notes that no catchweight has been designated. Benn’s willingness to face Pacquiao therefore leaves the weight, venue and date unresolved.

Garcia defeat prompts Benn’s rethink

Garcia stopped Benn in the second round of their WBC welterweight title fight, ending the challenger’s first attempt to win a world championship.

Benn was back on his feet after a heavy knockdown when the referee stopped the contest. He said he would have preferred to continue but accepted the official’s responsibility to protect him.

Despite his criticism of the weight cut, Benn credited Garcia as the better fighter on the night and said he wanted to return as an improved version of himself.

Is Conor Benn vs Manny Pacquiao confirmed?

No. Benn has named the first quarter of 2027 as a possible window, conditional on Pacquiao wanting the fight. His comments do not establish that negotiations have restarted or that Pacquiao has accepted that timetable.

Pacquiao has also been linked with other opponents, including Amir Khan’s separate comeback talks. Those discussions should not be confused with an agreement to face Benn.

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