Golden Boy Promotions and Zuffa Boxing are working through the final promotional and broadcast details before Ryan Garcia’s WBC welterweight title defense against Conor Benn becomes official
Ryan Garcia’s WBC welterweight title defense against Conor Benn is expected to move a step closer to reality after representatives from both sides gathered in Las Vegas to finalize negotiations. The proposed September 12 fight now hinges on resolving promotional control and broadcast rights before an official announcement is made.
BoxingScene has reported that the Garcia-Conor Benn bout could be formally announced as soon as Friday after the involved parties gathered in Las Vegas to complete the final stages of negotiations.
The fight is targeted for September 12 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, where Ryan (25-2, 20 KOs) is making his first defense of the WBC welterweight title he captured in February.
Benn (25-1, 14 KOs) enters as the WBC’s No. 1-ranked contender. The British welterweight rebounded from his 2025 defeat to Chris Eubank Jr. by avenging that loss before defeating former light welterweight champion Regis Prograis in April. One question surrounding the matchup is whether Benn can comfortably return to the 147-pound limit, as he has not weighed in at welterweight since 2022.
Ryan first revealed the fight during an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, but the bout has yet to receive an official announcement from the promoters.
The remaining hurdle involves the promotional structure and broadcast rights. Ryan is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions, whose events are streamed by DAZN, while Benn fights under Zuffa Boxing, whose cards are carried by Paramount+.
The promotional and broadcast structure remains unresolved because of the business dispute between Golden Boy chairman Oscar De La Hoya and Zuffa Boxing’s Dana White. It has yet to be determined which company will lead the promotion or where the event will be streamed.
The bout would match two of boxing’s biggest names at welterweight, with Ryan making his first title defense against the WBC’s mandatory challenger.