Conor Benn vs. Ryan Garcia | DAZN - 12 September 2026

[Ruthless-RKO]

Ryan Garcia Considers Conor Benn ‘A Dead Man Walking’

If it were up to Ryan Garcia and Conor Benn, they’d be standing across from each other far earlier than September 12.

Garcia and Benn traded words during a largely cordial appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show” on Tuesday on ESPN. Things picked up at the end of their segment, when Garcia promised Benn would “get his ass whooped,” but it was a far cry from their fiery press conference on July 18 at Fanatics Fest in New York, where security had to separate them less than five minutes after it began.

“It’s just gonna be like another day in the office,” Garcia said. “I’m just gonna beat the s*** out of this dude. I know we’re talking all light, but this dude is about to get his ass whooped. I know he’s talking a good game, the UK thing, but he’s just not good enough. He’s getting black eyes in sparring – this is sad. This guy, he’s dying out there. He’s a dead man walking. Look at him. This dude looks like he’s about to pass out right now in the sun. This ass-whooping is gonna be bad.”

“He’s like a kid,” Benn said in response to Garcia. “He said the same with [Rolando “Rolly” Romero.] He said the same with [Gervonta Davis.] He talks enough for the both of us.”

Garcia (25-2, 20 KOs, 1 NC), The Ring’s No. 6-ranked welterweight, got the final word, calling Benn “borderline a bum.”

Their 12-round fight for Garcia’s WBC welterweight title will take place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. It will stream on Paramount+ in the United States and on DAZN across the UK and Ireland.

“You are like a very fancy trash can, bro,” Garcia said. “I’m gonna take out the trash on September 12. I’m gonna send your ass back to the UK with a good check, and hopefully your brain will still be intact. That’s all I care about.”

Garcia, 28, will make the first defense of his WBC welterweight title. The Victorville, California, native won the belt thanks to a dominant unanimous decision against Mario Barrios on February 21 at T-Mobile Arena.

He dropped Barrios (29-3-2, 18 KOs) inside the first 30 seconds of the first round before putting together the most complete performance of his career.

“I’m very sharp right now,” Garcia said. “Everything has been going perfect. We’re just carrying the momentum from last fight to this fight, and we have a responsibility as a champion to make sure that we come in the best shape and give the fans the best version of me possible. That’s exactly what we did, and we’re already ready to go. I wish the fight was literally tomorrow. I’m ready to just get this done.”

Benn, 29, will have to make 147 pounds for the first time since his second-round stoppage of Chris Van Heerden in April 2022. The Englishman weighed 149.6 pounds for his last fight, a unanimous decision over two-time 140-pound titleholder Regis Prograis in a 10-round, 150-pound catch-weight bout on April 11 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.

One fight prior, Benn (25-1, 14 KOs) scored the biggest win of his career when he beat Chris Eubank Jr. by unanimous decision in a 12-round middleweight rematch November 15 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Benn suffered the lone defeat of his career in the first bout against Eubank (35-4, 25 KOs), a unanimous-decision defeat in April 2025. Their first meeting won The Ring’s “Fight of the Year” award for 2025.

Despite the rivalry between Benn and Eubank, which dates back to their fathers’ two fights over 30 years ago, he said he is “more up for this fight than I have been for any other” against Garcia. He also echoed Garcia’s sentiment by wishing their fight was sooner and seeking a stoppage victory to achieve what he believes is “written in the stars.”

“When I see an opportunity, I’m going to take it,” Benn said of winning by stoppage. “If you look at all my fights, I can do 12 rounds of pace, no problem. My work ethic and discipline, it’s unmatched. I do 12 rounds, I do 10 rounds. I have ‘Fight of the Year’ up at middleweight, drop back down even now to this fight [and I am] doing 12 rounds easy.

“I’m a 15-round fighter. If it does go to points, which in my heart, I don't believe it does. Me to my core, I don't believe it does. That's what I believe. I prepared hard for a hard fight, but I’m looking for the stoppage. As soon as I see an opportunity in there, I’m gonna shoot my shot. And when I shoot, I don’t miss.”

[KiwiRider]

Out of Benn's entire career, this is actually the only fight I've been looking forward to.
The Eubank Jr thing had way too many restrictions and finally the restrictions are on him.
I don't know who is going to win, no clue which is also intriguing.

[Ruthless-RKO]

RAMIREZ-ROCHA ADDED TO GARCIA-BENN UNDERCARD

An interesting welterweight bout has been added to the Ryan Garcia-Conor Benn undercard.

Zuffa Boxing announced Wednesday that former unified junior welterweight champ Jose Ramirez will square off against Alexis Rocha in a 10-round bout that will be part of preliminary action September 12 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Paramount+ will stream Ramirez versus Rocha in the United States as part of a five-fight preliminary card, which will begin at 5 p.m. ET (2 p.m. PT). It will also be available via DAZN in the United Kingdom and Ireland, starting at 10 p.m. BST.

Ramirez (29-3, 18 KOs) – an Avenal, California native who once held the WBC and WBO 140-pound crowns – hasn’t fought since he lost a 12-round unanimous decision to Devin Haney (33-0, 15 KOs, 1 NC) in May 2025 as part of The Ring’s event at Times Square in New York. Rocha, a southpaw from Santa Ana, California, who is ranked No. 8 among The Ring’s 147-pound contenders for a vacant championship, most recently defeated former IBF junior lightweight champ Joseph Diaz Jr. (34-10-1, 15 KOs) by unanimous decision in a 10-round match March 14 at Honda Center in Anaheim, California.

______
Zuffa also announced these four fights as part of the preliminary card:

■ Pablo Rubio (15-0, 5 KOs) vs. Oswaldo Molina (9-0, 4 KOs) – 6 rounds, lightweights

■ Abel Gonzalez (8-0, 6 KOs) vs. Raul Salomon (16-4-1, 14 KOs) – 8 rounds, super middleweights

■ Vlad Panin (24-2, 16 KOs) vs. Dakota Linger (17-7-3, 13 KOs) – 6 rounds, junior middleweights

■ Sean Garcia (7-1-1, 2 KOs) vs. Abraham Morales (4-1, 2 KOs) – 6 rounds, lightweights

The four-fight main portion of the Garcia-Benn event is set to start at 8 p.m. (5 p.m. PT) in the U.S. and 1 a.m. BST in the UK.

Garcia (25-2, 20 KOs, 1 NC), of Victorville, California, will defend the WBC welterweight title for the first time against England’s Benn (25-1, 14 KOs). DraftKings lists Garcia, who won his WBC belt from Mario Barrios six months ago at T-Mobile Arena, as almost a 4-1 favorite.

[MasterG]

Anyone thinking Benn will win this fight?

[JamesPhilips]

Anyone thinking Benn will win this fight?

I think he’s got more of a chance than people think. He’s fit, determined and throws loads of punches…Garcia can be very erratic too.

[forcefraser]

Depends on which version of Garcia turns up. If he comes in on point he should win easy enough

[stujones]

I think that yes Garcia should be a pretty hot favourite - particularly given we don't really know how Benn will cut it (no pun) at 147. However, I am glad some people are noting the inconsistencies with Garcia.

[coneye]

I think the real Garcia will turn up and will look for a stoppage , doubt he will ever want to lose to Benn

[JamesPhilips]

I think that yes Garcia should be a pretty hot favourite - particularly given we don't really know how Benn will cut it (no pun) at 147. However, I am glad some people are noting the inconsistencies with Garcia.

He’s a clear favourite but not that massive - like 3-1 on.

[Kilburn]

I’m planning to be pretty accurate with the main event ring walk time, as I have next to zero interest in these undercard fights.

[Boxerbeetle]

Benn off the PEDs is levels below Garcia. But as per above comments, Garcia isn’t exactly a model pro himself, never really know which version of him will be in the ring. Hopefully he turns up for this one and lays a proper beating down.

[Ruthless-RKO]

‘I’m coming with the smoke’: Conor Benn believes he’ll stop Ryan Garcia to win WBC title

Conor Benn says he’s been diligently preparing his body to effectively make 147.



Conor Benn sits down with Mike Coppinger on behalf of Ring Magazine to discuss his upcoming WBC welterweight title shot against Ryan Garcia. Here, Benn talks a bit about making his way back down to 147 after fighting Chris Eubank Jr up the scales, and more! You can read some excerpts from Benn below with the full video interview segment in the link.

Benn on the weight cut for the Garcia fight
“It’s hard, it’s brutal, but we’re getting it done. I’m not going to be complaining and moaning. Like, I know what I signed up for…I’m getting paid handsomely, I’m fighting for the world title and headlining in a mega fight in Vegas. So what’s there to moan about?”

On his plans to apply pressure to Garcia
“I’m coming with the smoke, I’m coming with it for sure…Who knows where is mental state is. All I can speak of is my behalf and we’ve prepared diligently hard, I’ve given 110% this camp, I’ve put my body through hell…I think in life nothing worth having comes easy, right? So we always knew it was going to be hard to get back down to 147 but it’s what I want to do.”

On who he thinks is the bigger puncher between the two
“We’ve both big punchers. We catch anyone on the chin flush, they’re going to sleep.”

On how he expects the fight to go
“I don’t [believe it goes the distance]. I hand on heart believe I get hold of him. That’s what I believe in my heart. I believe that 10 years in the game this year, I believe this is mine for the taking.”

On how he thinks he’ll take Garcia’s punch at ‘47 compared to Eubank at ‘60
“It all depends on me and during the weigh-in, which is why I do my weight properly. I leave no stone unturned. I make sure that I do everything properly.”

[Ruthless-RKO]

[Ruthless-RKO]

[keithmoonhangover]

Benn's going to get knocked out IMO.

[paultom]

Benn's going to get knocked out IMO.

fingers crossed he does

[keithmoonhangover]

Benn's going to get knocked out IMO.

fingers crossed he does

I wonder how many travelling fans he'll have.

[a force]

Garcia at evens to win by stoppage seems like bet of the year to me.

I honestly don’t think Benn would win the British title. Even if Garcia doesn’t take him seriously I think there’s that many levels between them that he still finds the stoppage.

[Ruthless-RKO]

[coneye]

Benn's going to get knocked out IMO.

fingers crossed he does

I wonder how many travelling fans he'll have.

ONE , Fella called Nigel , his biggest fan

[forcefraser]

Benn has the 147 excuse already lined up. Weight cut killed him etc etc

Has he knocked out anyone since the eggs? The guy knows his level, I think, so he's all about the money. Fair play, most would do the same if they had the opportunity

Never fought a half decent domestic opponent at 147.

[Ruthless-RKO]

BENN WILL SKIP 154, MOVE UP TO 160 OR 168 AFTER RYAN FIGHT

"Is this going to be your last fight at 147 no matter what?

Conor Benn: "Yeah."

"So your plan is you win the title and then vacate?"

Conor: "Win the title. , 'He's making excuses.' There's no excuses, it's just my last fight at 147 to dominate, get the belt and move on."

"And then go to what?"

Conor: "168. 160, 168, yeah. ... I won't be doing 154 no way."

[@RingMagazine]

[NazNaci1]

I really hope a fired up Garcia turns up.

If he does, he should be way too quick and his speed, along with power should be enough.

Benn winning would be horrendous to take, as much as I loved his Dad.

[Fearful_Freddie]

He's emaciated. I've seen more meat on a chicken McNugget.

[CaptainSpacerod]

Yeah the more it becomes apparent how depleted getting back to 147 will leave him, the odder it seems that he’d choose to do this when there are reasonably attractive fights to make at 154.

Maybe Zuffa figured that a fight with Garcia was by far the best way of recouping their absurd investment in Benn but to the layman it doesn’t seem any more attractive a fight than say Benn v Vergil Ortiz or Benn v Josh Kelly

Mystifying