2026-05-19 10:44:02
Ryan Garcia has announced that he will fight Conor Benn in Las Vegas later this year.
The American boxer has revealed that he will be making the first defence of his WBC welterweight title against Benn in Sin City on September 12.
Announcing that he would be facing an opponent “from the other side” in an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Monday (18.05.26), Garcia told the puzzled host: “No, he’s from across the pond. I’ll just say his name: Conor Benn. He’s talking a lot.”
The fighter suggested that the bout with Benn will be a “little personal” as he recalled how the British boxer grabbed him at an awards show in 2024.
Garcia said: “He pressed up on me, grabbed me, so it’s a little personal.
“I’m going to really put a whopping on this man, and we will send him back to the UK sipping on some tea.”
Benn is the mandatory challenger for Garcia’s belt but suggested last month that he had the option to fight against several top opponents.
The pugilist told Sky Sports: “Of course, it is the priority to get that Garcia fight done, but I am not short of options.
“There are a lot of fighters calling me out, big names calling me out.
“God willing, we get the Garcia fight done for the title. I am in the No 1 position for that belt and I have worked extremely hard to get to that position.
“If Ryan doesn’t want it, there are plenty of fish out there.”
Garcia has revealed that he is determined to become the new face of boxing after winning his first major world title earlier this year by beating Mario Barrios.
He told ESPN: “Well, you know, now that I’m a world champion and I have the belt, I feel like I’ve always had the following and all the opportunities you can have as a superstar.
“Now that I have this piece that I was kind of missing, of course I would love to keep fighting, carry boxing, and lead this generation of young fighters in popularity and now as a world champion.
“I have all the opportunities to become the face of boxing, but now I just have to prove it with my dedication and all the fights that are going to be lined up. I have to do it now.”
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