Ryan Garcia Stops Conor Benn in Second Round

American boxer Ryan Garcia retained his WBC welterweight title on Saturday night, defeating challenger Conor Benn via a second-round technical knockout at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

The contest served as the main event of a Zuffa Boxing promotion and marked Garcia’s first successful defense of the belt. Garcia entered the ring as a betting favorite after moving into the 147-pound division earlier in the year.

Early Finish in Las Vegas

The decisive sequence occurred in the second round when Garcia dropped Benn with a right hand. Benn managed to rise from the canvas, but Garcia immediately renewed his offensive attack, prompting referee Thomas Taylor to intervene and halt the match.

The win moves Garcia to a career record of 26 wins and two losses, with 21 of those victories coming by knockout. Saturday’s contest was Garcia’s third career fight at the 147-pound welterweight weight limit.

Fight Background and Records

Benn’s record fell to 25 wins and two losses following the stoppage. The defeat marks Benn’s second loss in his past four bouts. The match was Benn’s first at the 147-pound welterweight division since April 2022. He had most recently competed at a 150-pound catchweight in April, where he earned a decision victory over Regis Prograis.

Background

Garcia originally earned the WBC welterweight championship in February by defeating Mario Barrios. In the days leading up to the fight against Benn, Garcia stated during an appearance on television show “First Take” that he expected to win the match by knockout.