Ryan Garcia has declared his intention to knock out Conor Benn, drawing a parallel to the legendary right hook delivered by Floyd Mayweather to Ricky Hatton, who tragically passed away last year. Garcia is set to face Mario Barrios for the WBC welterweight world title at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas this Saturday, where Benn will be in attendance, presumably to scout potential future opponents.
Despite not competing at welterweight for over three years, Benn is ranked No. 1 by the WBC. His recent bouts include a notable middleweight rivalry with Chris Eubank Jr., which saw him split two matches—losing the first in April and winning the rematch in November. With Mayweather’s iconic knockout of Hatton in 2007 still fresh in the minds of boxing fans, Garcia is eager to replicate that moment in his own style.
Garcia expressed his views on Benn, stating, “He’s just all right to me… when somebody’s very skilled and experienced, they’re gonna pick him apart pretty bad.” He confidently predicted that Benn would suffer a knockout at his hands, likening the anticipated outcome to Mayweather’s triumph over Hatton. Garcia remarked, “Rest in peace Ricky Hatton, though. Love you Ricky, and he was a great fighter.”
The matchup against Barrios marks an important moment for Garcia, who has been somewhat inconsistent in the ring. Following a humbling defeat by Rolly Romero in May, Garcia aims to reclaim his status with a victory against the 30-year-old Barrios. Barrios, a former champion himself, has faced his struggles, most notably a lackluster draw with the now 46-year-old Manny Pacquiao during his last title defense.
Garcia enters the bout as the favorite but recognizes the necessity of constant improvement and focus. “But I just think that he has that style of he’s getting over himself too much,” Garcia analyzed, suggesting that sharpness will be crucial in capitalizing on Barrios’ openings.
As Garcia prepares for his return to the ring, the undercard promises an exciting array of fights, including Gary Russell versus Andy Hiraoka and Richardson Hitchins defending his IBF super-lightweight title against Oscar Duarte. Garcia has ambitions beyond just this fight; he is also eyeing a showdown with newly crowned four-weight champion Shakur Stevenson, listing Benn as a secondary option, signaling a busy and exciting path ahead for the rising star in boxing.