Ryan Garcia is set to face one of British boxing's biggest stars, Conor Benn, in a highly anticipated world title defense on September 12 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Garcia will defend his WBC welterweight title against Benn, son of International Boxing Hall of Famer Nigel Benn.
The fight, which will air on Paramount+ and DAZN, marks Garcia's first defense of his 147-pound belt, which he claimed with a win over Mario Barrios in February. The bout had long been rumored for this fall, with Garcia (25-2, 20 KOs) previously confirming his plans to face Benn during a May appearance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.
Garcia claimed the WBC welterweight belt, his first career world title, on February 21 in Las Vegas as he defeated the reigning champion Barrios by unanimous decision in what many believed to be a career-best performance. However, the road to the title was not without its setbacks. In his previous fight, Garcia suffered a defeat to Rolly Romero, the current WBA welterweight champion, in his first fight back from a year-long suspension stemming from a positive PED test.
Conor Benn, on the other hand, will drop down to welterweight for the first time since 2022 to challenge Garcia. Benn has had a successful career, with a notable victory over former world champion Regis Prograis by unanimous decision in his most recent bout this past April. The fight was contested at a 150-pound catchweight, a decision that may have been influenced by Benn's previous defeat to Chris Eubank Jr. in a middleweight grudge match in April 2025.
In a statement made on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Garcia expressed his readiness to face Benn, stating, "He's talking a lot. He actually confronted me at an awards show two years ago. My wife was there and he just pressed up on me, grabbed me. So it's a little personal. We'll be ready to go get him." The bout was officially announced on July 15 by Zuffa Boxing founder Dana White, locking in the title clash between two of boxing's most boisterous stars.
The stage is set for a thrilling encounter between Garcia and Benn, with both fighters looking to assert their dominance in the welterweight division. With Garcia's first title defense on the line, the pressure is on him to deliver, while Benn will be looking to make a statement in his first fight at welterweight in nearly two years. The world will be watching as these two boxers clash in the ring, with only one emerging victorious.
Source: Yahoo Sports
