Benn’s challenge for Ryan Garcia’s WBC welterweight crown ended violently in the second of their clash at T-Mobile Arena on Saturday night.

On Monday, the 29-year-old took to social media to admit he is not sure what is next for him in a cryptic post that did not rule out retirement.

But his compatriot Bentley (22-3-1, 18 KOs) has opened the door to an all-British clash for his WBO title.

He told The Ring: “Conor’s whole thing in the Garcia fight was that he wanted to win the WBC title like his dad did. … Well I hold the actual WBO middleweight title that his dad held.” Indeed, that 160-pound strap was the first world title Benn’s famous father Nigel, who was 25-1 at the time, won via an eighth round stoppage of Doug DeWitt in April 1990.

The younger Benn (25-2, 14 KOs) could get the chance to reclaim the hardware for his family against Bentley.

“I’d be happy to fight him because it’s beneficial for me as well,” Bentley 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. Let’s not get it twisted. “I think it would be a great story behind it because it is his dad’s old belt and it’s a fight that would raise my profile a lot.

“He’s getting another opportunity to achieve a dream and do what he has set out to do with the WBC title but just in different circumstances. If he wants to move up and fight for the belt, I’d have to grant him that because it benefits both of us. “I’m at a stage now where I’m a world champion and that will be on my resume forever. Now it’s time to make some money.”

There is no bad blood between Bentley and Benn, who sparred in Majorca ahead of the latter’s first showdown with Chris Eubank Jr. in April last year. But there was one conversation during that spell that makes Bentley think Benn might not return at all after Saturday’s humbling defeat. “I wouldn’t be surprised if he doesn’t box again,” Bentley sai. “He had made good money for him and his family already. “And I remember in camp when he said to me that after his two fights with Eubank he can live his life however he wants to live and he will be good forever and that he doesn’t need to box again. “I told him he’s got loads of years left but he said ‘Listen, I don’t need to box again.’ Then this opportunity came up where he made money signing with Zuffa and fighting Regis Prograis. Then he got the chance to fight for that WBC belt he wanted so bad. “Let’s see what happens now. He’s content with his life, he’s happy, he’s got a nice family and all these things so I wouldn’t be surprised if he didn’t box again.” The same cannot be said for Bentley himself, whose first defense of his new title is still being arranged. The WBO have ordered him to face highly rated mandatory challenger Yoenli Hernandez (11-0, 9 KOs) next but no deal has been agreed yet. Bentley said: “We are still working on that and we haven’t got to the bottom of it yet. We’re still in conversation with Yoyo’s team and the WBO so nothing is finalized. We don’t know what the possibility could be between him being next or me being granted the voluntary that the WBO said I could have. “Either way it is what it is. I will fight anyone, whether that’s Yoyo next and Conor Benn after, we will see.”