Conor Benn has revealed discussions over a bout with Mario Barrios for the WBC welterweight title were "serious" if his anticipated clash with Chris Eubank Jr. had fallen through.
The Briton will face his domestic rival in London this April, making good on the promise of a 2022 bout pulled at the last minute, with plenty of bad blood between the two men.
Such has been the uncertainty over the contest however, set to be fought at middleweight with Benn stepping up two divisions, that the fighter had considered other options too.
One was a bout with Barrios for his world crown, and speaking on DAZN's Ariel x Ade: The Boxing Show, Benn revealed that it would have been a dream fight to make instead.
"After what I've been through for the past two-and-a-half years, for me to come back and win the WBC world title where I had my debut, that's where dreams are made of," he said.
"What a story [it would have been] for me to come back off a two-and-a-half year fight in itself, to then fight for the WBC world title and win it.
"Because no doubt, I believe I would have stopped Barrios. So for me, it was no problem. Give me Barrios. I know everybody wants this fight [with Eubank].
"I know the supporters want this fight, and I felt like I really wanted to give the supporters the Eubank fight. But Barrios was serious, it was a serious fight that I wanted for sure."
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