Ryan Garcia hopes to face one of his long-time rivals after fighting Conor Benn, insisting that he would make the perceived challenge “look very easy”.
First, the 28-year-old must defend his WBC title against Benn, headlining an event at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena on September 12.
Having been made a sizable favourite, Garcia is widely thought to be too skilled and experienced for his mandatory challenger, who has not fought at 147lbs for over four years.
The defending world champion also comes off arguably a career-best victory over Mario Barrios, who he dethroned with a unanimous decision verdict in February.
This followed a far less impressive welterweight display against Rolando Romero, though, as Garcia suffered a points defeat after returning from his year-long doping ban in May 2025.
It could therefore be said that the American has a tendency to blow hot and cold, which, to some extent, could also be said of fellow welterweight champion Teofimo Lopez.
While claiming his WBA title with a convincing display against Romero last weekend, ‘The Takeover’ has indeed been known to produce far less accomplished performances at world level.
When considering their potential unification match, then, Garcia told FightHype that he anticipates having all the tools to defeat the three-division world champion.
“I will beat the brakes off Teofimo. That’s one of the fights that people think will be tough for me – and then I make it look very easy. I’ve been wanting that one [for ages].
“I wanna beat the f**k out of him; I wanna give him his final lesson.”
Even if he retains his WBC title against Benn – and looks spectacular in doing so – Garcia would likely be made a slight underdog if his next outing happens to be against Lopez.
