Legendary trainer Teddy Atlas has predicted an upset victory when Ryan Garcia and Conor Benn go head to head.
The two welterweights will collide at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena on September 12, with ‘King Ry’ making a first defence of his WBC world title.
Garcia claimed his belt by dethroning Mario Barrios with a unanimous decision victory in February, which followed his unexpected points defeat to Rolando Romero in May 2025.
Back then, Garcia seemed a shadow of his former self after returning from a year-long doping ban, courtesy of him testing positive for ostarine following his encounter with Devin Haney.
A lack of confidence appeared to be the main problem here, with the American’s passive approach throughout the build-up being matched by his lacklustre performance against Romero.
But while Garcia is now coming off a far more assured display against Barrios, Atlas remains unconvinced that the 27-year-old can maintain this mindset.
Speaking with Canada Casino, the Hall of Fame trainer highlighted the champion’s inconsistency as the reason for him siding with Benn.
“Garcia has always been influenced on a mental and emotional basis. He is very talented, but unless he is right mentally and emotionally, that talent doesn’t really equate into anything special.
“Garcia is probably in a better place now, mentally, than he has been for a while. But does he stay in that place? At the end of the day, I usually go towards consistency. Garcia fights in spurts. Benn is not as flashy or spectacular in those spurts, but he is more consistent with his offence.
“In the mental area, Benn probably gets a bit of an edge. I might possibly be on the side of Benn.”
While ‘King Ry’ has previously tested positive for ostarine, Benn’s failed a doping test for clomifene came ahead of his cancelled encounter with Chris Eubank Jr in 2022.
