Conor Benn says his return to the welterweight limit for his world title challenge against Ryan Garcia has been the toughest weight cut of his career, but insists he is healthy ahead of Saturday’s fight in Las Vegas.

Benn, 29, will challenge WBC champion Garcia at T-Mobile Arena in the first world title fight of his 10-year professional career. The Briton must weigh no more than 10st 7lb (67kg, 147-pounds) on Friday, having last made the welterweight limit when he stopped Chris van Heerden in April 2022.

“It’s been extremely difficult. It feels like I’ve been dragged down to the pits of hell, had a fight with Satan and God brought me back to life,” said Benn, according to BBC Sport. “Making weight has been the hardest thing I’ve done. I haven’t made weight for four and a half years so it’s going to be hard. But I won’t moan when I’m getting paid a fortune to headline in Vegas for a world title. I know what I signed up for.”

Benn’s appearance during fight week has prompted questions over the effects of the cut, but he dismissed concerns over his condition. “I’m healthy,” said Benn. Garcia, meanwhile, described his own cut as “easy peasy, lemon squeezy” and questioned whether his challenger was already on weight.

Benn expects to rehydrate significantly following Friday’s weigh-in and said he could enter the ring at around 12st 7lb (80kg). Even if he defeats Garcia to become a world champion, Benn said he plans to vacate the title “straight away” before moving back to middleweight or potentially as high as super-middleweight.

The Briton also criticised Garcia after the champion failed to attend a scheduled face-off at Mandalay Bay on Tuesday. “Irrespective of how hard the weight cut is or anything else, we owe it to the public to give the fans what they want,” said Benn.“It’s a lack of discipline and professionalism.”