Shakur Stevenson VISITS & TRAINS Conor Benn To BEAT Ryan Garcia!

Yeah. How's it go, bro? This is the spot.

To some people, I'm great. Some people I'll never be good enough. Some people it's Nigel Ben's son.

[music] To some people, it's Conor Ben's dad. But ultimately, there'll always be pressure. Anything you do [music and singing] in life to succeed, you there's going to be pressure that comes with it to win.

Let's [singing] go. I love this, man. [music] I love this.

I love every minute of it. Just I just love it, man. Like, I don't [music] There is no There is no I can't even explain it to you.

3 2 1 We're in. [singing] That's nice. [music] Shakur Stevenson recently spent time training with Connor Ben, offering technical advice and working with him in the gym ahead of Ben's continued preparation for his fight with Ryan Garcia.

The session has attracted attention as Stevenson's defensive style and ring IQ could provide valuable insight for Ben against one of boxing's fastest and most dangerous opponents. Once a week, once every two weeks, we alternate the training. That's that prep that.

So you what you already [singing] been doing? Yeah, they got it. That's good.

I feel great. Um, you know, sprints kind of be getting me right, you know, get my conditioning right, you know, sometimes in a fight, a fight could turn into a sprint cuz it's like start the pace fast as hell and then they can't keep up the pace. But the sprints are kind of get you in shape to where once you break down sometimes you get a second win, then you get another win, then you get another win after that.

So, um, I did the sprints a lot in a Jamal Herren fight. From the moment training begins each morning, the atmosphere inside Ben's camp is focused and methodical. Every drill serves a purpose.

Every round is designed to prepare him for the pace, timing, and movement that Ryan Garcia brings into the ring. Rather than relying solely on power, Ben's team has emphasized balance, footwork, defensive positioning, and the ability to create clean punching opportunities against an opponent known for his hand speed. It's an easy like he says now he had a great upbringing.

He didn't need anything in upbringing, but he wants to fight and that's the difference. He wants to fight and he wants to train and he's got that desire to win and in a champion that's what you need and I believe that Connor Ben will become victorious in this fight. Inside the gym, every detail matters.

Coaches constantly evaluate Ben's stance, distance management, and ability to close space without exposing himself to counter shots. against a fighter like Garcia who possesses exceptional speed and a dangerous left hook. Small defensive mistakes can quickly become costly.

Yeah. So, we're obviously like 10 weeks out from the fight. So, we're beginning the camp.

Connor always keep maintains himself in brilliant condition anyway. So, it ain't as though I'm bringing in a fighter who's not uh who's not been in the gym for ages and starting him off. He's already in decent condition.

So, what we're just doing at the minute for for the for the first couple of weeks out here is we're we're working on his endurance, just working on his stamina and then just doing a lot of technical stuff. Observers often associate Connor Ben with aggression and explosive offense. Throughout his career, he has built a reputation for applying pressure and looking to hurt opponents with powerful combinations.

However, a fight against Ryan Garcia would require more than relentless forward movement. Timing, patience, and disciplined defense could become just as important as offensive output. Great.

That's 28. No, but do you know what I'm saying now? It just shows consistency.

It shows one. Yeah. 6 5 2 1.

One of the most talked about moments from Connor Ben's training camp came during his intense sparring session with Shakur Stevenson. Known for his elite defense, sharp footwork, and exceptional ring IQ, Stevenson pushed Ben to think faster and work harder every second of every round. Rather than focusing on power alone, the sparring emphasized timing, distance control, and defensive awareness.

Ben responded with relentless pressure and determination, using the session as an opportunity to test himself against one of boxing's most technically gifted fighters. Connor likes to be neuromuscularly ready for the session. I want him to be ready for the session as well.

So, we do some priming exercises. They could be power exercises, but they can also be isometric exercises. So overcoming isometrics are where you're applying maximum force against a removable object.

Connor likes that cuz it lights his CNS up before he does his heavy lifting. So uh instead of just going in cold, he yeah you prioritizes that and we like doing that in the middle of the week as well cuz it doesn't mean too much fatigue as well muscular level. So uh we'll be doing lots of that later today.

Nigel Ben revealed that Connor has been sparring with elite level partners throughout his career to prepare for the challenges he could face against top fighters. According to Nigel, the goal is to expose Connor to a variety of styles, speeds, and tactics so that nothing on fight night comes as a surprise. If you'd have seen him spying with a partner that he's been sparing with the good good top quality world ranked fighters and even world champions that he's been spawning with.

I can't say much now unless I speak to speak to Tony, but he's um Connor's been like on fire. This is the happiest I've been in his whole life of training to be a boxer. I've never seen Connor been like this.

Like, mate, I was up at 4:00 just thinking, "What happened? What happened? These fine partners are not middle of the road.

" Yeah. I could see like Connor's agent watching over me. He's like, "Oh, no, no, no.

Cut, cut, cut. I'm No, no, no. I'm my own man.

Only the man upstairs knows why he put what he put in me, which is a burning fire, burning desire to be the best I can be, to achieve everything I believe I can achieve, to reach my full potential. Nigel has expressed full confidence in his son Connor Ben, insisting he believes Connor can defeat any opponent put in front of him, including big names like Ryan Garcia and Devin Haney, showing complete faith in his ability and future in world boxing. Nigel, when this interview goes out, Connor will have already fought.

So, assuming he does beat Reges Pro tonight, do you want to see him in there with Ryan Garcia? Deon, who do you want to see him in there? Um, whoever they got lined up, I don't mind.

I'm I'm very confident we're both fighting all of them against Roelly Garcia. So, I'm just happy for I'm happy for um him to fight any of them. I really do.

And now that he's that he's proper weight, you'll really see the good the best of Connor tonight. Another demanding exercise in Connor Ben's training camp focuses on strengthening his neck and improving head stability. Wearing a resistance band securely attached around his head, Ben performs controlled movements in multiple directions while maintaining proper posture.

The drill targets the neck muscles, which play a crucial role in absorbing impact and reducing excessive head movement during punches. Stronger neck muscles can help a boxer maintain balance, recover more quickly from shots, and stay composed during intense exchanges. [music] Good.

Yeah, that's rotation. More tension. Good.

More tension. So Tony's got him progressing incrementally week on week. So it's not just we do a blanket approach.

It's based on the athlete, based on his times. We track all of the times. And today you probably saw all of his times improved exponentially.

It was incredible. Uh and it's interesting because at the start of camp he's like never going to be able to do that at the end of camp. Tony's like trust me you are.

Five four two one. around my neck. Carbon copy of me, but even better.

I was just a fighter. I just didn't go in there and um he's got skills. He's got abundance.

He's got literally everything in his toolbox. Uppercut, hooks, jab, you name it. Right hand.

He's got all the punches. He's got literally everything. and he's got the mind, the brain thinking.

Conditioning also remains a major priority. Modern boxing demands sustained intensity over multiple rounds. And Ben's camp reflects that reality.

Road work, interval sprints, strength training, recovery sessions, and countless rounds of sparring, all combined to build the endurance required to maintain a high work rate from the opening bell until the final round. Sprint work. Um, six 300 m sprints.

Um, with active recovery of a 100 m jog, 100 m jog, 300 m, 100 m jog, 300 m. That's it. Time ready.

All right. So, I'm going to cross over. Connor Ben also includes late night outdoor workouts as part of his training routine.

These sessions are focused on improving conditioning, speed, and endurance through sprint intervals, footwork drills, and body weight exercises. Training outside provides a different environment from the gym and helps break up the intensity of daily boxing sessions while maintaining a high level of fitness. The cooler evening temperatures can also make it easier to sustain demanding workouts.

Combined with his technical training and sparring, these outdoor sessions help build the stamina and consistency needed to perform over the course of a full boxing match against a high-paced opponent like Ryan Garcia. You can't give in. You can't just wave your white flag.

You can't just quit. And that's all the attitude. My dad 39.

[music] Pretty gruesome steps. Tony's going to be up there timing him. V for victory.

Winston Churchill. He's got his previous times as well. Quite leg heavy, quite lung heavy, but we'll wait and see how Connor gets on.

I'm sure he's going to dominate like he does with every workout. Demon time. Can't run me.

So, the champions are made. Connor is an incredibly explosive athlete and he's also someone who has a big engine. Steps are great.

You're going to get huge lactate accumulation in the blood. The legs are going to feel pretty heavy, I think. And Connor is just such a savage.

You saw the way he was just going up there putting a lot of force into the ground gets into that focus mode gets it done. His ability to tolerate lactate in the blood. So in the latter parts of the fight that's going to be really, you know, helpful for him, beneficial for him.

Certainly when he drops low as well, he uses his legs quite a lot and then, you know, comes up with his shots. You know, it's grim where it takes you about 10 minutes to walk down. Connor Ben remains highly motivated throughout training camp and believes that setbacks do not define a fighter's career.

He has spoken about using past disappointments as motivation to improve rather than allowing them to affect his confidence. Ben's focus is firmly on becoming a better boxer every day through hard work, discipline, and consistent preparation instead of dwelling on previous results. He is concentrating on refining his skills and putting together the best possible performance.

That mindset has been evident throughout camp where every workout, sparring session, and technical drill reflects his determination to continue growing as a fighter and prove himself against elite competition. The reality is I can do it all. I don't just rely on my power.

You know, my last two fights because people, you know, used to me knocking people out. They don't want to give you the credit you deserve for going 10 and going 12 and making it look easy. But Mahar didn't even go in the yellow zone.

I don't need to bang you out to win. You know, I'll give you a good hiding for 10. I'll give you a good hiding for 12.

You know, not that I plan on this game past four rounds. Connor Ben has also received public backing from Terrence Crawford, who believes Ryan Garcia cannot afford to underestimate the British contender. [music] In a post on X, Ryan Garcia, you might get knocked out.

you better be training and taking this fight serious. Fans have also taken notice of the work Connor Ben has been putting into his training camp with many praising his dedication and consistency ahead of the fight with Ryan Garcia. Boxing analyst Salga highlighted Ben's preparation in a post on X, writing, Connor Ben is putting in the work for his upcoming fight against Ryan Garcia.

It will be his first fight at 147 lbs since Chris Vanhiran, whom he fought in April of 2022. However, Ryan Garcia has made it clear that he respects Connor Ben as a dangerous opponent, but remains confident in his own abilities. Rather than predicting an easy victory, Garcia believes his technical skills, speed, and overall boxing ability would give him the advantage in the matchup.

He has consistently pointed to his sharp timing, quick combinations, and experience at the highest level as key factors that separate him from many opponents. While acknowledging that Ben brings aggression and power, Garcia appears confident that his movement and ring IQ would allow him to control the fight. I won't bother you, but can I be in the locker room before the fight streaming?

Yeah, I won't bother you. Okay, if you as long as you don't bother me, I'm pretty locked in. Actually, I feel so like relaxed for this fight.

Like like it's going to be a I don't want to say it's going to be a walk in the park, but like I feel like my skills are so good that You're sharp. I'm I'm sharp. Yeah, for sure.

Analysts say Connor Ben has been pushing for a fight with Ryan Garcia for a long time, repeatedly expressing his desire to face the American star, while Garcia appeared less publicly engaged in making the matchup happen. Although some fans argue that neither boxer has fully earned such a high-profile opportunity based on recent performances, analysts believe that does little to diminish the appeal of the contest. They point out that boxing's biggest events are often driven by entertainment value, marketability, and fan interest.

as much as rankings or title credentials. Conor Ben has been goating Ryan for ages. [music] He's been calling for this fight.

He's been wanting this fight. Ryan really hasn't engaged. Um although we knew this fight was going to happen as soon as the WBC uh put Connor Ben as Did they put him as mandatory or did they rank him number one?

They're slightly different those two things. Uh, but as soon as they did that anyway, we knew it was just a case of, okay, how are they going to work this out from Ryan's perspective [music] with Golden Boy and Don and I feel like they've come to an agreement. I haven't read too much about how this fight's going to play out in terms of broadcast, but I did read something that Don have UK and Ireland rights and I'm guessing that in America it's going to be I don't know, Ring Magazine Zufa.

I know that sounds a bit strange, but I do think everyone is going to try and get a slice of the pie in order for this fight to be made, and that's what's happened. As for the fight, I know a lot of you probably uh won't [music] be too happy with Connor Ben getting this opportunity, but Ryan didn't deserve the opportunity when he fought Barios. Let's not forget Ryan's fight before Barios with Roi Romero where he lost.

The showdown between Ryan and Connor Ben has also fueled a promotional rivalry between Zufa Boxing and Golden Boy Promotions. With Ben signed to Zufa Boxing and Garcia remaining one of Golden Boy's biggest stars, both organizations have become heavily involved in the buildup. Oscar De La Hoya has publicly criticized Zufa's role in the promotion while insisting that Golden Boy will continue to represent Garcia throughout the event.

The disagreement has added another storyline beyond the action inside the ring, creating a rare situation where two major promotional forces are competing for influence as one of boxing's biggest fights approaches. Are you going to be involved, Oscar, in the promotion of this fight? I mean, how how how [music] petty are these guys not to include me and not to, you know, make sure I'm not on stage and make sure that uh what are they afraid that I'm going to [ __ ] Dana in the nose?

I mean, of course I'm going to be there. Of course, I'm going to be promoting it. Ryan Garcia, everybody knows he's my fighter, so he's under Golden Boy.

So, uh, you know, we're looking forward to a big massive event. I believe the other day, Turkey, Alles, Turkey, uh, said that, uh, six plus million dollars have already been sold. So, yeah, it's going to be a big event.

So, I'm really looking forward to be part of it. So to be clear, Oscar, at that press conference in New York two weekends ago, did you want to be involved and were told that you cannot be involved? I wasn't even aware of it.

And that's what they do. That's what these people do. They they try to sit by one under me or they, you know, they I I really do believe they are trying to keep me away from Dana because they know what's going to happen.

What would happen if you saw him? [laughter] Oscar de la Hoya has also suggested that Ryan Garcia's current contract with Golden Boy Promotions is nearing its end, adding another layer of intrigue to the discussion surrounding Garcia's future. While reaffirming that Garcia remains a Golden Boy fighter, De La Hoya indicated that the partnership is approaching the final stages of its existing agreement that has fueled speculation about what Garcia's next move could be once his contractual obligations are complete.

Despite ongoing promotional disagreements involving Zufa boxing, De La Hoya stressed that Golden Boy remains fully committed to representing Garcia throughout his upcoming fight and ensuring he receives the support and promotion expected from the company. He said one more after this. Is that accurate based on your understanding of the contract?

Yeah, based based on my understanding of the contract, that's what the contract reads and uh yeah, but we'll see. Okay. Meaning, you know how things change every single day.

It feels like there's been one more for like five years between you and him. [laughter] We've we've positioned Ryan Garcia over the years as his promoter to be where he's at, you know, with his hard work, his skill. He gets there, he gets the job done.

Um, but we've always had this rocky relationship just like a family. You have fights your your family one day, you have fights the other day. We're just like a big old dysfunctional family.

But I'm okay with it as long as we can get the job done. And so do you feel my my feeling Oscar is that there's a flirtation with Zufa that they he would be a perfect guy for them to sign. Do you feel like they're coming after him?

Well, they're coming after everybody. Um these guys these guys are are actually like I said they're the Trojan horse. Yes.

And on my clapback and uh you know just just watch out. Just just trust me. What sound?

What do you think?