Conor Benn says WBC welterweight champion Ryan Garcia is "good for boxing" but believes the American is a "liability".
Garcia won his first major title in February after two previous failed attempts and following his return from a one-year suspension for doping.
The 27-year-old has long been on Benn's radar but the Briton, who has served his own doping ban from the sport, spent 2025 tied up in his rivalry with Chris Eubank Jr.
Benn, 29, stepped up two weight classes to face Eubank, winning the second encounter, but is ready to start campaigning back at his traditional division of welterweight.
He told BBC Sport that Garcia was supposed to be his next opponent but did not want another period of inactivity, so agreed to face Regis Prograis on 11 April instead.
"I think Garcia's good for the sport of boxing, I think he's a character and he's entertaining, but he's also a liability," Benn told BBC Sport.
"Garcia was next, that was scheduled in - I am mandatory number one position for Garcia.
"Now if you're me, do you wait out until September or do you take a potential banana skin in the middle? I like rolling the dice and having a little bit of fun and keeping active."
Drastic money difference behind Zuffa switch - Benn
Zuffa Boxing is backed by UFC chief Dana White and Saudi Arabian capital.
White's ultimate aim is to sideline the four traditional sanctioning bodies - the WBO, WBC, IBF and WBA - and make Zuffa's belt the premier world title alongside the Ring Magazine title, an organisation owned by Saudi boxing powerbroker Turki Alalshikh.
What Benn's future looks like beyond his deal with Zuffa Boxing remains unclear, but his desire to win a world title - just as his father Nigel did in the 1990s - remains firm.
Benn has several avenues to explore if he beats Prograis, with Rolando Romero holding the WBA title, Lewis Crocker in possession of the IBF belt and Devin Haney the reigning WBO champion.
But Garcia, whose unpredictability Benn admires, remains the Briton's number one target.
"You don't know who's turning up - you don't know if Garcia's turning up," Benn said.
"You don't know if he's going to make the fight or not, have some sort of episode. You just don't know.
"People don't want to be themselves in the sport of boxing, so I love it when I see a young man under fire for being who he is.
"At least you're true to yourself and who you are. Whether I like you or not - I don't him - but some people do, just be who you are."
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