Conor Benn Turns Down December Pacquiao Fight Offer

Conor Benn has confirmed he turned down an offer to fight Manny Pacquiao this December, citing the physical toll of his recent weight cut and the birth of his newborn son.

"The fight got presented to me for December, and it was just too soon making weight. Got a newborn son," Benn told Sky Sports Boxing. "So for me it was really about spending time with my family and just enjoying this period, the festive period, with my family. But if Q1 he wants to get on again, I'm interested."

Why Benn Passed on a December Date With Pacquiao

Benn says his body simply was not ready to make another run at 147 pounds so soon after his last fight. He has since bulked up to around 185 pounds and says he is done with welterweight entirely, even ruling out a stop at junior middleweight as a bridge.

"My future's at middleweight," Benn said. "I thought about light middle. There's nothing in me at light middle even. That's how bad the weight cut was."

That leaves a real puzzle for anyone trying to make a Pacquiao fight happen in early 2027. Pacquiao built his legacy well below middleweight, and there is no catchweight on the table yet that would split the difference fairly between a blown-up Benn and a boxer who spent most of his prime at lighter weights.

What Benn Said About His Loss to Ryan

Benn also addressed his recent loss to Ryan, admitting that outside pressure pushed him into a flawed decision to chase the welterweight limit one more time.

"I don't know what I was thinking making 147," Benn said. "There's one thing making the weight, and then there's one thing performing at your best at the weight, and it showed. I paid the price for, say, chasing greatness."

Benn credited Ryan for landing the fight-ending shots and said he does not blame the referee for stopping the bout, even though he wanted to keep fighting after being dropped. He took full responsibility for how the night played out.

Betting Angle

A Benn-Pacquiao matchup is the kind of fight that moves pay-per-view buys more than it moves sharp money, and that split matters for bettors. Benn is younger, bigger now, and walking into the fight at what would likely be a weight advantage, which should make him a clear favorite on paper. But his stock took a real hit against Ryan, and a fighter who just admitted he cannot safely make 147 anymore is an unpredictable quantity against a future Hall of Famer who has competed at multiple weights over a 20-plus-year career. Until a catchweight is set and a date is signed, treat any early lines on this one as soft and subject to big swings once fight week nears.

Nothing is finalized. Benn says he is open to a first-quarter 2027 date, but the weight class question has to be settled before a contract gets signed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did Conor Benn agree to fight Manny Pacquiao in December?

No, Conor Benn confirmed he received an offer to fight Manny Pacquiao in December but turned it down, citing a difficult recent weight cut and wanting time with his newborn son.

What weight class does Conor Benn want to fight at now?

Conor Benn says his future is at middleweight and that he has no interest in returning to welterweight or even junior middleweight after a brutal cut to 147 pounds.

Is a Conor Benn vs Manny Pacquiao fight still possible?

Conor Benn says he remains open to fighting Manny Pacquiao in the first quarter of 2027, though the two sides still need to resolve what weight class or catchweight the fight would be contested at.