Ryan Garcia stops Conor Benn in two, superfight against Teofimo Lopez may be next
Sep 13, 2026 • 12:12 AM ET
UFC EnterpriseLAS VEGAS – Ryan Garcia didn’t move gingerly into his reign as the new WBC welterweight champion.
In a full-blown assault of England’s Conor Benn, with his greatest rivals looking on from ringside, Garcia made the first defense of his belt a crushing one, finishing Benn by TKO just 1-25 into the second round. That followed an opening round in which Benn, though aggressive, appeared be stung three times by clean blows.
The build-up to this T-Mobile Arena showdown was heated with much attention being drawn to Benn supposedly struggling to make weight. Though he weighed 146lbs at Friday's weigh-in then claimed on social media he'd rehydrated to 178lbs within hours, the challenger refused to step on the scales on fight day.
Garcia, who was officially 145.5lbs, did so and weighed just 151lbs.
Regardless, he was in control from the start and finished matters in the second.
After first decking Benn with a damning right hand to the center of the Brit’s face, Garcia, 26-2 (21 KOs), finished him off with a brutal head combination that convinced referee Thomas Taylor to wave the fight over.
“I’ve always had a right hand, but I’ve always had injuries,” Garcia said.
"I want to thank Conor for a great build-up and a great match. Viva Mexico!
With fellow champions Devin Haney - who Garcia beat in 2024 only for the bout to be ruled a no-contest when he failed two tests - and Teofimo Lopez watching, Garcia summoned an angered Lopez.
"Teofimo, get that ass up here," Garcia said. "Where you at?
"He wants to get crazy; we can get crazy. I'll beat your ass right now."
Garcia's invitation was foiled by security, however.
Lance Pugmire has been a full-time boxing writer for nearly 20 years, serving now as BoxingScene’s U.S. Senior Writer and assistant producer for ProBoxTV’s “BoxingScene Today.” Pugmire capped a near 20-year career at the Los Angeles Times (sports investigations, NHL/MLB beat work, law enforcement/courts and boxing/UFC) to join The Athletic, and then USA Today. Pugmire’s stint at The Times started with the first Israel Vazquez-Rafael Marquez fight and the Oscar De La Hoya-Floyd Mayweather Jnr then-record pay-per-view, leading through a slew of ringside assignments at major bouts, including Mayweather-Pacquiao, Mayweather-Canelo and the Canelo-Golovkin trilogy. Lance’s appreciation for boxing is rooted in his admiration and appreciation for the fighters, gladiators who have proven to be the most forthcoming and candid of all the athletes he has interviewed over a career dating to 1990. Lance was honored to be named the 2022 winner of the Boxing Writers Association of America Nat Fleischer Award for career excellence and he’s collected many BWAA writing awards in categories ranging from breaking news to deep-dive long features.
