Ryan García defeated Conor Benn by technical knockout in the second round, stopping the fight at 1:25, to retain his WBC welterweight title in the main event of a boxing card at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The Mexican-American fighter was making the first defense of the title he won from Mario Barrios on February 21, 2026. He needed just over a round and a half to see off Benn, a British contender who had been considered a difficult opponent.
How the co-main event went
In the co-feature bout, Jai Opetaia beat Noel Mikaelian by technical knockout in the ninth round, at 1:30, to retain the Zuffa Boxing and Ring Magazine cruiserweight titles.
Background to the fight
García returned to the ring for the first time since beating Barrios, a result that had allowed him to capture the WBC welterweight championship. That win over Barrios came by unanimous decision and marked a new stage in his career after previously campaigning in lighter weight classes.
García is known for his speed and for a left hook that remains one of the most dangerous punches in the division. According to the report, his performance against Barrios showed an evolution in his style, with the Mexican fighter using his jab more often, combining punches with both hands, and showing more patience in controlling distance and dictating the pace of the fight.
Benn, in contrast, is known for constant pressure, aggression and a high volume of punches. He looked to set a physically demanding pace that would blunt García's speed advantage. Much of the anticipation around the fight centered on how Benn would perform at welterweight, a division in which he had less experience than García.
Ryan García's record
García, nicknamed "King Ry," improved his professional record to 25 wins and 2 losses, with 20 of those victories coming by knockout. He is 28 years old, stands at roughly 1.77 to 1.78 meters tall with a 1.78-meter (70-inch) reach, and fights out of an orthodox stance. He competes at the welterweight limit of 147 pounds, or 66.7 kilograms. His most recent fight before facing Benn was the win over Barrios that brought him the WBC title.
Conor Benn's record
Benn, known as "The Destroyer," is a 29-year-old British fighter with a record of 25 wins and 1 loss, including 14 knockouts. He stands 1.73 meters tall with a 1.73-meter (68-inch) reach and also fights from an orthodox stance. He too makes weight at 147 pounds, or 66.7 kilograms. Benn's last fight before facing García came in April 2026, when he beat Regis Prograis by unanimous decision.
How the fight was expected to unfold
Before the bout, García was seen as having the stronger case to win, with advantages in speed, experience on big stages, precision and adaptation to the welterweight division. His performance against Barrios had shown a more disciplined and complete version of the boxer than in some of his earlier fights.
Benn's path to an upset was seen as running through constant pressure, a high volume of punches and a physical fight from the opening rounds. The open question was how long he could sustain that pace after what he himself had described as the toughest weight cut of his career.
García ultimately proved the stronger fighter. He used his advantages to stop Benn in the second round at 1:25, retaining his WBC welterweight title in his first defense.
