Zab Judah will be in attendance at the T Mobile Arena, Las Vegas this weekend when Ryan Garcia makes the first defence of his WBC welterweight world title against mandatory challenger Conor Benn.
Benn was awarded the number one spot despite not competing at the weight since 2022, having fought as high as middleweight in the time since.
Following a loss to Rolando Romero in his 147lbs debut, Garcia beat Mario Barrios for the belt earlier this year.
Because Benn is returning to the division, much of the pre-fight talk has been focused on how he will work his body back down while maintaining his key attributes – aggression, tenacity and pace.
At the commission weigh-in, he tipped the scales at 146lbs and Garcia was 145.5. It was the culmination of what the Brit labeled a ‘brutal’ weight cut, during which many fans, fighters and analysts said he looked in a bad state.
Judah, however, told Fight Hub TV that he believes Benn was playing tricks on Garcia in the lead-up after seeing him take the stage at the ceremonial weigh-in.
“I see two guys ready to fight. They look in shape. Conor Benn played some good mind tricks on us with the AI video where everybody thought he was weight-drained. He looks sharp and strong.”
Judah would not make a prediction for the fight, but is confident that the ringside judges won’t be required.
“Ryan’s got to box from the outside, land some good combinations. If you’re Connor you gotta take the fight to him, stay on his chest.
“It’s safe to say I believe it’s gonna end in a knockout. I don’t think it’s gonna make it all twelve rounds.”
The fight tops the bill in Sin City on Saturday night, with Jai Opetaia and Noel Mikaelian clashing at cruiserweight as co-man event.
