"Everything comes at a cost" - Conor Benn hints at retirement in first words following brutal Ryan Garcia loss

Conor Benn has spoken publicly for the first time following his brutal second round stoppage defeat at the hands of Ryan Garcia at the weekend, with the Briton addressing his boxing future.

The Londoner made his first venture back down to the welterweight division in four years as he attempted to dethrone WBC king Garcia, but fell significantly short in his quest of doing so.

The American's blistering speed and power proved far too hot for Benn to handle, with the reigning title-holder making a successful defence of his belt courtesy of an emphatic TKO just one minute and 25 seconds into the second stanza.

Understandably, the heartbroken Briton abstained from talking to the media in the immediate aftermath of the fight, but took to social media on Monday to offer his first words.

In an emotional statement, the 29-year-old said: "Everybody keeps asking “What’s next for Conor Benn?”

"The truth is, I don’t have the answer.

"If you’d asked the 19 year old version of me whether I thought I’d be standing here ten years later, having lived through everything I have, I’d have told you that you were crazy.

"I train hard. I sacrifice. I’ve given this game 110% every time I’ve stepped through those ropes, I’ve wanted to give people unforgettable nights and entertain.

"That’s what this has always been about for me.

"People spend their hard earned money to come and watch guys like us fight. I’ve never taken that for granted. I’ve always wanted to be a servant of the public and give everything I have when it matters.

But giving everything comes at a cost. And the people who have paid that cost more than anyone are my family and my kids.

- Conor Benn

"They’ve sacrificed time with their Dad so I could chase this dream. They’ve had to share me with this sport their entire lives.

"So when people ask me what’s next for Conor Benn, right now the answer is simple.

"Time with my kids.

"Fight fans, thank you. Those who travelled to Vegas, those who stayed up until the early hours. I will never take your support for granted, especially on those nights things don’t go to plan."

Whether Benn, who was fighting under the Zuffa Boxing banner, opts to resume his boxing career in the future remains to be seen, but if he does it will almost certainly be in a higher weight class than the 147lbs he boiled down to in Las Vegas.