That is the frank opinion of Benn’s experienced trainer Tony Sims ahead of their world title showdown at T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas on Mexican Independence weekend.

Garcia, The Ring’s No. 5-rated welterweight, won the belt via lopsided points victory over defending champion Mario Barrios at the same venue in February.

But, during an interview with The Ring, Sims explained why he was not impressed with Garcia’s performance that night and why size will matter when they meet in September.

“Ryan Garcia has fought some good fighters, he had that win over Devin Haney and he’s a good fighter,” Sims said, in reference to the fight that was later changed to a No Contest after Garcia tested positive for the banned substance Ostarine.

“But if you’re talking about up at 147 [pounds], he’s only really beaten Mario Barrios. Not putting Mario down, he’s a good fighter, but I feel like he was made for Ryan, just walking forward with his hands wrapped round his head.

“Conor Benn's not going to be like that and also Conor Benn's a lot bigger fighter than Mario Barrios is. He's another fighter who's moved up from lightweight while Conor boxed a big middleweight, if not a super middleweight in Chris Eubank Jr., twice.

“Eubank never hurt him once in their 24 rounds so I just don’t really see Ryan Garcia hurting Conor Benn. He’s just a blown-up lightweight really. He was talking about going back down to 140 before this fight came about, so I just don't really see him hurting him or stopping Conor.

“My opinion is that I think Conor Benn would be too strong for him.”

Sims also questioned whether Garcia will have the requisite “dog in him” for this fight, given the criticism he received for the nature of his 2023 stoppage defeat to Gervonta Davis.

He added: “It's going to be a tricky fight, there's no doubt about it and Conor's going to be the underdog going over to Vegas to fight Ryan Garcia, everything's going to be in Ryan's favor.

“But I just think the size difference in them [will be a factor]. Also Conor's got that bit of dog in him but has Ryan Garcia got a dog in him? The body shot he got hit with by Davis, he could have got up but he didn't get up, so we'll see on September 12.”

The day before they meet at T-Mobile, all eyes will be on the weigh-in as Benn attempts to make the 147-pound welterweight limit for the first time since he boxed Chris van Heerden in April 2022.

The closest he has come since was for the Regis Prograis fight in April, which took place at a contracted weight of 150. Benn won 98-92 on all three cards after 10 rounds but did not look at his explosive best.

It has been suggested that losing another three pounds in order to make championship weight might result in an even more weight-drained Benn (25-1, 14 KOs) facing off against Garcia (25-2, 20 KOs).

Sims said: “For Prograis he only had six weeks to pull the weight off and get ready for a southpaw.

“We've had loads of time for this fight because we've known about it for quite a long time, even though it's only just been announced. So he's gradually been getting his weight down all this time and he's got his weight down really well so he'll be a different kettle of fish for this fight.

“It's all about turning up on the night and all I can say is Conor Benn's going to be ready for this fight on September 12, he's going to be more than ready. Don't worry about his weight, his weight's down now, so don't drive yourself mad about that. He's still another eight weeks to go.

“To come down to 147 with plenty of time ain't a big deal. It was a big deal last time because he got hit with a six-weeks-notice fight where he had to make 149 in six weeks.

“He had no knowledge of fighting before that, so he wasn’t really in camp. That meant he had six weeks to get ready, so of course, it was going to be a bit of a struggle to make 149, but he's had ages now to get his weight down.”