Ryan Garcia vs Conor Benn: Tony Bellew warns champion
On September 12 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV, Ryan Garcia vs Conor Benn will headline a Ring fight card, co-promoted by Zuffa Boxing and Golden Boy Promotions. Fight fans in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and most countries worldwide can catch the action live on DAZN pay-per-view and The Ultimate Tier, while the U.S. can watch the event on Paramount+, with Garcia’s WBC welterweight title on the line.
Ahead of this exciting welterweight clash, former cruiserweight world champion Tony Bellew spoke on Fight Your Corner, in partnership with Midnite, where he warned Garcia that his mind needs to be right to deal with Benn.
Ryan Garcia vs Conor Benn: Fight night in Las Vegas edges closer
Benn’s weight cut to 147 has been heavily discussed in the build-up to the fight, with him looking gaunt and many expressing concern. However, as we get closer to September 12, the Brit has looked a lot more comfortable with the weight.
His manager Keith Connolly recently raised a concern regarding Garcia’s no-show at the first public face-off:
“I think Ryan’s struggling to make weight, and I think that’s going to weigh heavily on Ryan,” said Connolly.
Garcia (25-2, 20 KOs) produced a career-best performance last time out, defeating Mario Barrios to win the WBC title. He dropped Barrios and dominated him throughout.
Benn (25-1, 14 KOs) beat Regis Prograis in his previous fight. It was underwhelming, and the Brit will need to be at his best to have any opportunity against the talented Garcia.
Tony Bellew delivers warning ahead of Ryan Garcia vs Conor Benn
Ahead of Garcia-Benn, Bellew revealed how he sees the fight going, but also warned Garcia that he could be in trouble if he’s not 100% focused:
“The only thing that we have to grip onto for Conor to win is Ryan Garcia’s mentality. That’s the big thing in my opinion. If Ryan Garcia shows up 100% with his mind on the job, this fight’s a formality. If he shows up at anything less than 70% or 80%, he’s in a world of trouble because you do not want a young boy who’s putting his whole life and soul on the line and is not leaving you alone.
“That’s the last thing you need. Especially when in your mind walks to that ring, you’re thinking this kid’s not on my level because that’s what he’s saying. Just listen to what he’s saying in the media. The boy’s not on my level. He’s not good enough. And he’s right to think that because he hasn’t shown you anything but that. So there’s a lot of things to contemplate for Conor Benn. And there’s only one argument: Is Ryan Garcia fully in for this fight? Is he all in? Is he feeling 100%? Is his mind on the job? If it is, I think it’s a formality. If it’s not, he’s in a world of s**t.”
Ryan Garcia vs Conor Benn full fight card
- Ryan Garcia vs Conor Benn, 12 rounds, for Garcia’s WBC welterweight title
- Jai Opetaia vs Noel Mikaelian, 12 rounds, for Opetaia’s lineal cruiserweight title
- Mark Magsayo vs Andres Cortes, 10 rounds, lightweights
- Da’Mazion Vanhouter vs Raphael Akpejiori, 8 rounds, heavyweights
- Jose Ramirez vs Alexis Rocha, 10 rounds, welterweights
- Pablo Rubio vs Oswaldo Molina, 6 rounds, lightweights
- Abel Gonzalez vs Raul Salomon, 8 rounds, super middleweights
- Vlad Panin vs Dakota Linger, 6 rounds, super welterweights
- Sean Garcia vs Abraham Morales, 6 rounds, lightweights
Stay with Big Fight Weekend for coverage of Garcia vs Benn, including results and video highlights, and post-fight analysis.
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Featured Image Credit:
Zuffa Boxing X Account
Ricky Carroll
Freelance Writer and Digital Marketer, spending most of his time waiting for Andy Cruz to win a world title. Also watches YouTube videos of Lennox Lewis fights on a daily basis.