Ryan Garcia showed no remorse for skipping the scheduled face‑off with Conor Benn on Tuesday, even calling it "funny" to watch the British pugilist pretending to confront his own father, Nigel, in the promotional video. Garcia is gearing up for the inaugural defense of his WBC welterweight crown, a bout that will take place Saturday night at the T‑Mobile Arena in Las Vegas against Benn. The two fighters were originally slated to meet earlier in the week at a media event hosted at the Mandalay Bay Hotel.
When Garcia failed to appear, Benn publicly accused his opponent of "bottling it," suggesting the American had caved under pressure. At a press conference on Wednesday, Garcia offered his side of the story: "I wasn't there because I didn't want to be. Look, we have a face‑off at the press conference on Thursday, then the weigh‑ins on Friday, and finally a real face‑off in the ring when the referees give us instructions. I've been doing this for a long time, I've had fight weeks in Vegas before, and I've never been required to do a face‑off on a Tuesday.
I have a routine, and I simply didn't feel like doing it. It was funny seeing him [Benn] stare at himself." Garcia's comments highlighted a broader tension in modern boxing promotion, where fighters are often asked to engage in staged confrontations that serve more as entertainment than genuine competition. While some fans enjoy the drama, others, like Benn, argue that such antics disrespect the audience.
"Ultimately it's disrespectful to the public because they deserve it," Benn said on Wednesday. "The public deserves us giving you guys the best. This is what we do. This is what we're here for." Benn enters the fight as the underdog, having recently moved up to middleweight for a bout against Chris Eubank Jr.
He suffered a loss to Eubank in April 2025, only to avenge that defeat later in November. More recently, Benn secured a victory over Regis Prograis at a 150‑pound catch‑weight in April, marking his first fight at the welterweight limit in more than four years. His previous appearance at 147 pounds was back in April 2022 against Chris van Heerden.
Benn has faced criticism for his ability to make weight, claiming he felt as though he had been "dragged through the pits of hell and had a fight with Satan" during his weight‑cut regimen. He endured a 15‑week diet plan to drop the necessary pounds, stating, "A lot of people said I couldn't make the weight, watch me do it. I've done it, and that's it." Looking ahead, Benn has indicated that this will be his final fight at 147 pounds, with plans to move up to either 160 or even 168 pounds after the bout. Garcia, however, made it clear he will not entertain any excuses from Benn regarding his weight cut after the fight.
"All we can do is go by past experience," Garcia said. "He cut back down to 150 pounds to fight Prograis. We saw how he bloated up.
Now he has an extra three pounds to shed. I don't want to hear any excuses.
He doesn't have a rehydration clause. I don't want to hear any crybaby s*** from him. He's trying to set up a narrative, because when he gets his a** whopped, he'll say: 'I was drained.' I'm about to beat his a**, it doesn't matter how much he weighs." The promotional buildup to the Garcia‑Benn clash has been intense, with multiple media outlets publishing teaser videos, mock confrontations, and speculative articles. Headlines have ranged from "Conor Benn's 'graduation day' is here" to "Tyson Fury vs.
Anthony Joshua: Fight is '100 per cent happening' says Fury's manager as Cardiff emerges as potential venue," illustrating the crowded landscape of combat‑sports news. Even Teofimo Lopez made a cameo at the Garcia‑Benn press conference, adding a layer of intrigue to the already heated atmosphere. Beyond the theatrics, both fighters have been focusing on the technical aspects of their preparation. Garcia has been sharpening his speed and footwork, emphasizing his signature hand speed that has made him a fan favorite.
He has also been working on his defensive head movement, aiming to avoid the powerful left hook that Benn is known for. Meanwhile, Benn has been honing his body punching and clinch work, seeking to wear down Garcia over the later rounds.
Both camps have employed advanced sports‑science support, including nutritionists, physiotherapists, and mental‑performance coaches, to ensure the athletes are at peak condition for the Saturday night showdown. The weigh‑in scheduled for Friday will be a pivotal moment. If Benn successfully makes the 147‑pound limit, it will mark a rare return to the welterweight division after a four‑year hiatus.
Should he miss weight, the fight could proceed with a financial penalty or a catch‑weight agreement, potentially altering the strategic dynamics. Garcia has already signaled that any weight‑related issues will not be a factor in his post‑fight commentary, reinforcing his confidence that the bout will be decided purely by skill and will. Fans and analysts alike are eager to see how the narrative of the "snubbed face‑off" will influence the mental game inside the ring. Garcia's refusal to participate in the Tuesday confrontation could be viewed as a psychological tactic, aiming to keep Benn off balance.
Conversely, Benn's public criticism may serve as motivation, fueling his desire to prove himself against a highly touted opponent. The clash promises to deliver a blend of athletic prowess, promotional drama, and personal rivalry, making it one of the most anticipated welterweight contests of the year. Regardless of the outcome, the Garcia‑Benn fight will likely have lasting implications for both careers.
A victory for Garcia would solidify his status as a dominant champion and potentially open doors to mega‑fights with other top‑ranked welterweights. For Benn, an upset win could catapult him back into title contention and validate his decision to move back down to welterweight after his recent middleweight experiments.
The stage is set, the hype is palpable, and the boxing world will be watching closely as these two athletes step into the ring to settle both their personal and professional scores.