It's set to be one of the biggest fights of the year and Ryan Garcia and Conor Benn are expected to produce fireworks in the ring that live up to expectation.
The pair will battle it out for the WBC welterweight title on Sept. 12 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Garcia (25-2, 20 KOs) is looking to defend his title for the first time having won it in February while Benn (25-1, 14 KOs) hopes to win the same belt his dad, legendary British fighter Nigel Benn, held in the 1990s.
ESPN caught up with Benn to discuss the key points ahead of the biggest fight of his career.
A brutal weight cut
The interview is yet to begin in earnest and Conor Benn, who never sugarcoats things, reveals how his weight cut is going.
"Conor, thanks for your time, how are you feeling?"
"Yeah good mate, I feel ... hungry."
That's hungry in the literal sense rather than metaphorical.
It's the harsh reality for someone who hasn't fought at 147 pounds in four years. It's not unheard of, but it is rare for a fighter to go up in weight to then come down again.
Benn moved up to 160 pounds to fight Chris Eubank Jr. twice in 2025. That followed just two fights in three years while he was suspended in the UK after he tested positive for a banned substance in 2022. He was cleared in November 2024 and has always maintained his innocence.
The first fight against Eubank Jr., a points defeat, was fight of the year and put Benn on track for stardom. The second, a points win for Benn, was not as exciting but he produced a much tidier display of boxing.
Benn began his climb down the weight classes with a 150lb fight against Regis Prograis in April and has said he struggled with the catchweight.
"It was a run-out fight. A fight I took on six weeks' notice to prepare for a southpaw. Weight was a massive factor in that. I hadn't made 149 for years, as well," Benn says.
"Of course I am [struggling]. It's hard work, of course it is. Making weight is hard. I haven't made this weight in four years. It's challenging but it's part of the game."
Benn says he lives for the game. The day after the first Eubank Jr. fight -- his first professional defeat -- Benn posted a video of himself on social media in the gym.
Most of his social media content comes from training. Benn knows every moment counts when going through such a tough weight cut.
"I prepare diligently for everybody. The Regis fight, if I hadn't worked hard and took the fight seriously, [it] would have not allowed [the Garcia fight] to take place.
"Every fight in my career: A [big] name, not a name, a puncher, not a puncher, winning record, losing record, I still prepare the same: Diligently for everybody."
Benn expecting 'best version' of Garcia
Part of what makes Garcia exciting is you never know what he'll do next. In the lead-up to this fight he's been filmed performing a passionate rendition Michael Jackson's Thriller on karaoke and creating content with some of the world's biggest streamers.
He has, of course, also been in the gym, and Benn knows he faces a huge challenge on Saturday if he is to realise his dream of winning a world title.
"I'm expecting the best version of Ryan," Benn says. "He's got the champion mentality and he's going to defend his belt with his life. I'm going in there with an underdog mentality as I do with every fight.
"He's a great fighter. He's got fast hands and he's the champion. I go in there with nothing but respect to him. He's a good fighter. When you're up against the champion you're challenging yourself against the best."
Garcia, even if it's for show, has been largely dismissive of Benn in the build up.
"It's no secret that his dad's name has given him a lot of privileges," Garcia told media last week. "I'm not going to put a man down for his dad putting in that hard work for him ... But he has not had it hard at all. I think he fought in the amateurs in Australia. Who the f--- is fighting there?
"He's never fought a young fighter, all of them have been older. Chris van Heerden, Chris Algieri, Chris Eubank Jr. ..."
Dana White has 'overdelivered'
With 34 knockouts between them, the fight should be barnburner, but there is also an intriguing sideshow with the two promoters involved. Dana White of Zuffa Boxing and Oscar De La Hoya, who represents Garcia, do not see eye-to-eye to put it lightly.
In some ways, it's remarkable that this fight is happening. Rival promoters and broadcasters (Paramount and DAZN) have come together to make a huge event. Zuffa boss White has also previously said that they would not recognise the sanctioning bodies, and yet the WBC title, which Benn has dreamt of holding, will be on the line.
Benn says everyone deserves credit for getting a deal done.
"I've got to give a big shout out to Zuffa. Not only have they got me a world title opportunity but they've stuck true to their word in allowing this fight to take place and working with me and making it happen," Benn says.
Benn's move to Zuffa, when he left Eddie Hearn after almost a decade, sent shockwaves through the sport but the Brit says White has "overdelivered" for him.
"You've even got Dana and Oscar and they've still managed to make this fight happen. [They've] put egos aside, especially Dana, just making sure he sticks to his word and he's stuck to his word in every element.
"He's overdelivered on many occasions.
"To be one of the first major [Zuffa] signings they had? It was a big move for me but also a trusting move that I'm going to take in what they said. A lot of promoters say things and don't deliver."
