Ryan Garcia will defend his WBC welterweight title against Conor Benn on Sept. 12 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The matchup ends months of friction between Garcia’s Golden Boy Promotions and Zuffa Boxing, the promotion co-founded by UFC CEO Dana White.
The fight lands on Mexican Independence Day weekend, a major boxing date that had opened up after Canelo Alvarez’s planned return against Christian Mbilli in Saudi Arabia was moved to October. Garcia and Benn quickly turned the announcement into a personal exchange on social media.
A Title Fight With Global Streaming Plans
The championship bout will headline a Ring Magazine show co-promoted by Golden Boy Promotions and Zuffa Boxing. It will stream globally on Paramount+, while viewers in the UK and Ireland will be able to watch exclusively on DAZN.
Garcia teased a potential fight with Benn during a May appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, calling it “a little personal.” At that time, no contract had been signed, and Golden Boy later sent a cease and desist letter over alleged interference in Garcia’s business.
| Fighter | Professional Record | Key Context |
|---|---|---|
| Ryan Garcia | 25-2, 20 KOs | Making the first defense of the WBC welterweight title he won in February against Mario Barrios |
| Conor Benn | 25-1, 14 KOs | Returning to welterweight for the first time since 2022 |
Garcia and Benn Exchange Warnings
Benn wrote on X, “You talk too much. I’m gonna smash your head in.” Garcia responded that Benn was “not a good enough fighter” to beat him and warned that the challenger had rushed into a fight he was not ready for.
White described the contest as a fight both men had wanted for a long time, highlighting Benn’s 26 wins in 27 professional bouts and Garcia’s status as a world champion. “The energy in that place will be incredible,” White said in a statement.
Benn’s Return to Welterweight
Benn moved up in weight for his rivalry with Chris Eubank Jr., losing their first fight in April of last year before winning the rematch in November. He then defeated two-time junior welterweight champion Regis Prograis in April on the undercard of Tyson Fury’s decision win over Arslanbek Makhmudov.
According to ESPN, Benn signed a multifight agreement with Zuffa Boxing several days after the Prograis victory. He had initially joined the promotion on a one-fight deal in February and had made clear that he wanted to return to welterweight to pursue a world title.
A Shift for Zuffa Boxing
The Garcia-Benn fight also gives Zuffa Boxing a direct connection to one of boxing’s established sanctioning-body championships. When the promotion launched earlier this year, it had sought to recognize its own champions rather than rely on traditional sanctioning bodies.
Allowing Benn to challenge for Garcia’s belt indicates that Zuffa Boxing fighters can now compete for world titles outside the promotion. Benn summarized his long path to the opportunity in a post on X, writing, “Been building up to this for a decade. I won’t miss.”
