Ryan Garcia showed no remorse for skipping the scheduled face‑off with Conor Benn on Tuesday, even calling it "funny" to watch the British boxer pretending to square up with his own father, Nigel. The American fighter is now gearing up for his first defense of the WBC welterweight championship, a bout that will take place Saturday night at the T‑Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
The two combatants were originally slated to meet at a media event in the Mandalay Bay Hotel earlier in the week, but Garcia simply did not appear. Benn reacted by accusing his opponent of "bottling it." At a press conference on Wednesday, Garcia offered his own explanation: "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 then a final face‑off literally in the ring when the refs give you instructions.
I've been doing this for a long time. I've had fight weeks in Vegas before.
I've never had to do a face‑off on Tuesday. So I have a routine to follow, and it’s something I chose not to do.
It was funny seeing him [Benn] stare at himself." Garcia's comments were followed by a series of promotional spots and podcasts, including discussions about a potential Anthony Joshua versus Tyson Fury showdown, Barry Jones' take on Benn's recent defeat, and Denzel Bentley’s suggestion that Benn could "skip the queue" for a middleweight world title shot. Other boxing news items were also highlighted, such as the upcoming Johnny Fisher versus Michael Pirotton card for September 26 at the Copper Box Arena, a tribute to Ricky Hatton’s career, and Benn’s own reflections after his loss to Garcia, where he admitted he still doesn’t know what comes next. Benn, for his part, expressed disappointment that Garcia’s absence had let the fans down. "Ultimately it’s disrespectful to the public because they deserve it," he said on Wednesday.
"The public deserves us giving you guys the best. This is what we do. This is what we’re here for." The British fighter enters the contest as the underdog, having recently moved up to middleweight for a bout with Chris Eubank Jr. He suffered his first loss to Eubank in April 2025 but managed 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 above the welterweight limit since a 147‑pound clash with Chris van Heerden in April 2022. If he makes weight on Friday, it will be the first time in over four years that Benn competes at the welterweight limit.
Benn has faced skepticism about his ability to cut down to 147 pounds, a challenge he described as feeling "dragged through the pits of hell and having a fight with Satan" during his preparation. He endured a 15‑week diet regimen to shed the extra pounds and proudly declared, "A lot of people said I couldn't make the weight, watch me do it.
I've done it, and that's it." He also hinted that this could be his final appearance at welterweight, indicating a desire to move up to 160 or even 168 pounds after the fight. Garcia, however, warned Benn not to use weight‑cut excuses after the bout. "All we can do is go by past experience," Garcia said.
"He cut back down to 150 pounds to fight Regis Prograis. We have seen how he bloated up. Now he has an extra three pounds to go.
I don’t want to hear any excuses. He doesn’t have a rehydration clause. I don’t want to be hearing 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 tension between the two fighters adds an extra layer of intrigue to what is already a high‑stakes championship clash.
Garcia, known for his speed and knockout power, will look to cement his status as a dominant champion, while Benn aims to prove that he can compete at welterweight and overcome the criticism surrounding his weight‑cut history. Fans will be watching not only for the action inside the ring but also for how the pre‑fight drama unfolds, especially given Garcia’s decision to skip the face‑off and Benn’s outspoken remarks about the public’s right to a proper show. Both camps have been vocal in the lead‑up, with Garcia emphasizing his routine and focus on the fight itself, and Benn underscoring his determination to meet the weight requirement and silence doubters. The upcoming weigh‑ins will be a critical moment; a successful cut for Benn could bolster his confidence, while any hiccup might give Garcia additional psychological leverage.
As the fight approaches, the narrative has shifted from a simple title defense to a broader story about professionalism, respect for the audience, and the lengths athletes will go to meet weight limits. Whether Garcia’s refusal to participate in the Tuesday face‑off will be remembered as a strategic choice or a slight against the fans remains to be seen, but it undeniably adds fuel to the fire that will ignite when the two step into the ring at T‑Mobile Arena.