Ryan Garcia and Conor Benn are “far along” on negotiations to stage a late-summer first WBC welterweight title defense by Garcia versus his top-ranked contender, an official connected to negotiations told BoxingScene Wednesday.
A date and venue have yet to be established, according to the official, although August is being targeted. The bout will either be streamed by Netflix or DAZN.
Benn’s unanimous-decision victory over former 140lbs champion Regis Prograis Saturday at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium allowed conversations to intensify with Garcia, who defeated Mario Barrios by wide decision February 21 in Las Vegas to win his first world-title belt after three prior attempts.
The 27-year-old Garcia 25-2 (20 KOs) posted his interest in fighting England’s Benn 25-1 (14 KOs) after Benn called Garcia out following Saturday’s bout, writing on “X,” “I’m down GARCIA VS BENN Let’s do it!!!!!”
Benn defeated Prograis by three 98-92 scorecards, but his performance against the now-retired fighter did not impress many who assess he’s better off fighting at junior-middleweight or middleweight.
Garcia then elaborated: “Mark my words: His corner or the ref stops my fight with Conor in the 6-7 round.”
Both fighters bring immense global popularity to the bout, and since Saudi Arabia boxing financier Turki Alalshikh spoke recently of staging a Garcia fight in the summer, it’s likely the bout will be presented by The Ring.
Benn fought Prograis after signing a one-fight, $15 million deal with Zuffa Boxing, which is partially backed by Alalshikh.
