Benn to face WBC champion Garcia on 12 September

Conor Benn's fight with WBC welterweight champion Ryan Garcia will take place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on 12 September.

Britain's Benn, 29, was made the WBC's number one challenger in December despite not fighting at welterweight since February 2024.

It will be Benn's first shot at a world title as Garcia, who beat Mario Barrios to win the belt in February, makes his first defence.

Benn is now promoted by Zuffa Boxing, which is backed by UFC chief Dana White and Saudi Arabian capital.

"These guys have been going back and forth on social media and this fight is going to be awesome," said White. , external

Garcia is American with Mexican heritage and the fight will take place on the weekend before Mexican Independence Day.

The 27-year-old has won 25 of his 28 professional fights, losing two with one no-contest, and was suspended from boxing for a year between 2024 and 2025 after failing a drugs test.

Benn, who has lost just once in 26 fights, was also sidelined for a year amid a doping scandal.

In May, Garcia appeared on Jimmy Fallon's Tonight Show to announce he would be facing Benn , but Oscar de la Hoya, who promotes the American, said the following month that no talks had taken place .

Garcia and Benn were on stage last week when fighters weighed in before UFC 329.

Benn's last fight at welterweight was more than two years ago when he beat Peter Dobson by decision in Las Vegas.

He moved up two divisions in 2025 for two fights against Chris Eubank Jr at middleweight, before beating Regis Prograis in April at a catchweight - 3lb above the welterweight limit.

Benn left promoters Matchroom to sign a one-bout deal with Zuffa Boxing in February and has since penned a multi-fight deal with them.

In April, Benn told BBC Sport that Garcia was "good for boxing" but believes he is a "liability".

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