JAKARTA - World champion in the welterweight class of the World Boxing Council (WBC), Ryan Garcia, confirmed that he will undergo a fight against Conor Benn in Las Vegas, United States.
The two fighters are scheduled to step into the ring on September 12, 2026, or coincide with the duel between Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez against WBC super middleweight world champion Christian Mbilli, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
"He came to me at an award show two years ago. My wife was there and he pushed and grabbed me. So, it's pretty personal. We'll be ready to fight. I'll beat him," Garcia said on the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.
Garcia, 27, managed to capture his first world champion belt in February 2026 after defeating Mario Barrios via absolute victory. The title was a major achievement after he had previously failed twice in the fight for the world title.
On the other hand, Benn, who is now 29 years old, has never appeared in a world title fight. The fighter from the United Kingdom is trying to follow in the footsteps of his father, Nigel Benn, who was a world champion in two different classes.
Benn has not fought again in the welterweight class since February 2024. However, last year he moved up two divisions to beat Chris Eubank Jr. in the middleweight and then stopped Regis Prograis in April 2026 in a catchweight, three pounds over the welterweight limit.
He has left his long-time promoter, Matchroom Boxing, and signed a one-fight contract with Zuffa Boxing in February 2026. The company is backed by UFC boss Dana White, as well as capital from Saudi Arabia.
Last month, Benn told BBC Sport that Garcia was a "good for boxing" figure, but he also called the American boxer a "liability".
Garcia has a record of 25 wins from 28 professional fights, with two losses and one no contest. He was also suspended for one year in the 2024-2025 period for failing a doping test.
Benn also experienced a similar situation after being absent for a year due to a doping case. However, he only suffered one defeat in his 25 professional fights.
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