Ryan Garcia and Conor Benn face off during a press conference for their welterweight championship boxing bout. AP Photo/Ian Maule See more of our coverage in your search results.
Add The New York Post on Google Two of boxing’s larger-than-life personalities clash at 147 pounds Saturday, as reigning WBC welterweight champion Ryan Garcia (25-2, 20 KOs, 1 NC) defends his belt against Conor Benn (25-1, 14 KOs) on a nine-fight card put together by Zuffa Boxing.
The main event bout will be held at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, with the preliminary card starting at 5 p.m. ET and the main card slated to begin at 8 p.m. ET.
In the co-main event, Jai Opetaia defends his “The Ring” and Zuffa cruiserweight titles against WBC cruiserweight titleholder Noel Mikaelian in a 12-round showdown.
Garcia is a strong favorite with -320 odds, whereas Benn aims for an upset as the +250 underdog.
Dana White separates Ryan Garcia and Conor Benn during a face-off during a press conference. AP Photo/Ian Maule Garcia vs. Benn prediction, best bet Garcia is coming off an impressive unanimous decision win over Mario Barrios in February, where his remarkable hand speed and power were clear against the experienced Barrios.
This performance marked a solid comeback following his second career loss to Rolly Romero and a no contest against Devin Haney in 2025.
Garcia weighed in at 145.5 pounds and has a reach advantage, measuring 70 inches compared to Benn’s 68 inches.
The London-born Benn has won his last two bouts, recently defeating Regis Prograis in April and avenging his loss to longtime rival Chris Eubank Jr. last November.
Ryan Garcia speaks during a press conference for his welterweight championship bout. AP Photo/Ian Maule Now, Benn returns to the United States hoping to follow in his father Nigel’s footsteps and pull off a significant world championship upset on North American soil.
However, he faces a couple of challenges. This will be his first fight at 147 pounds since 2022 and Garcia appears to have regained the form he exhibited earlier in his career.
“It’s been four-and-a-half years since I made it, and it feels like I’ve been through the pits of hell and had a fight with Satan, and God brought me back to life. That’s how it feels to make this weight. But ultimately, I’ve done it, and that’s it,” Benn said at Wednesday’s press conference.
Styles make fights, and Benn has vowed to attack Garcia early and relentlessly. However, I believe the champion will successfully defend his title in Las Vegas.
Technically, Garcia showed maturity against Barrios, and I doubt Benn will have enough stamina given this significant weight change.
Unless Benn can replicate Romero’s game plan, he will need to be cautious of Garcia’s signature left hook, which can strike at any moment.
The Play: Garcia to win by KO/TKO/DQ (-105, FanDuel) | Garcia To Win the Fight in Rounds 5 – 8 (+330, FanDuel)
Mike Turay is a sports journalist and editor who closely follows the NBA, NFL, college sports and UFC. He has demonstrated expertise in both NBA and NFL player prop bets for nearly three years. Mike is also highly knowledgeable about the sportsbook offer landscape, frequently trying and reviewing the latest apps and sites.
