Bentley Offers Benn Middleweight Title Shot After Garcia Loss

WBO middleweight champion Denzel Bentley has extended an immediate title shot to Conor Benn following his second-round stoppage loss to Ryan Garcia on Saturday night.

Bentley told The Ring he would welcome an all-British clash for his 160-pound belt, acknowledging the financial draw. "I'd be happy to fight him because it's beneficial for me as well," he said. "It's not just me giving him an opportunity because he will be giving me an opportunity to make some big money as well."

Benn Holds His Father's Old WBO Belt

The offer carries added weight because the WBO middleweight strap Bentley holds is the same title Nigel Benn won in 1990 with an eighth-round stoppage of Doug DeWitt. Conor Benn entered the Garcia fight hoping to capture the WBC welterweight belt his father once held, but that ended when Garcia stopped him in two rounds at T-Mobile Arena. Bentley said the chance to reclaim his father's belt at middleweight could be a compelling storyline for both men.

Whether Benn returns at all remains unclear. The 29-year-old posted a cryptic message on Monday that did not rule out retirement. Bentley, who sparred with Benn in Majorca ahead of the first Eubank fight last year, said he would not be surprised if Benn walked away. He recalled a conversation in camp when Benn told him he could live comfortably after two Eubank fights and did not need to box again.

Bentley is currently working out his first title defense. The WBO has ordered him to face mandatory challenger Yoenli Hernandez next, though no deal has been finalized. Bentley said his team is still in talks with Hernandez's camp and the sanctioning body about whether the Cuban will be next or if he will be granted a voluntary defense first.

Source: ringmagazine.com