WBC welterweight champion Ryan Garcia told anyone who would listen that he would stop Conor Benn in under five rounds. Guess what? He was right.
On Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Garcia (26-2, 21 KOs) dropped Benn (25-2, 14 KOs) with a right hand before trapping him against the ropes. Referee Thomas Taylor stopped the fight at 1:25 of the second round, securing Garcia’s first successful defense of his WBC welterweight title.
Earlier in the week, concerns lingered about both fighters making weight, but Garcia came in at 145.5 pounds, while Benn weighed in at 146 pounds.
Weight wasn’t the issue, but Garcia’s right hand was. Garcia is best known for his left hook, which is fast and furious, but the 28-year-old’s right hand has now produced knockdowns in consecutive fights.
Garcia said his plan was to study Benn early before unleashing his power.
“The first round I was just saying, ‘Just protect yourself. He’s going to get crazy. Just really worry about just watching what he’s doing, download, download, download,'” Garcia said. “Then I started hitting him. I was like, ‘Oh wow, I’m already timing him.’ And then the second round I said, ‘I’m just going to stand my ground a little bit. I’m going to get my respect real quick.’ And then when I did, I ended up knocking him out.”
What’s Next?
Garcia has options. He called out WBA welterweight champion Teofimo Lopez, who was seated ringside and attempted to enter the ring but was stopped by security.
“I want to unify against Teofimo [Lopez],” Garcia said at the post-fight press conference. “I think that’s the move. It’s a huge fight. Teo’s an entertaining dude; it’s gonna be a hell of a build-up, and he’s a good fighter too, so let’s run it.”
Garcia could also pursue a unification bout with WBO welterweight champion Devin Haney, which would be a rematch of their 2024 fight. Garcia initially won that contest, but the result was changed to a no-contest after he tested positive for the banned substance ostarine.
Regarding Benn, the 29-year-old struggled against Garcia’s speed and power. His name recognition should still create opportunities, although he will need to rebuild following such a decisive defeat.
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