Ryan Garcia says Conor Benn's attacks on his Mexican identity have added fuel to his preparation for their September 12 welterweight title fight. Garcia addressed the subject during a Wednesday media session in Las Vegas, three days before he defends the WBC championship at T-Mobile Arena.
The champion enters the 12-round Zuffa Boxing main event with a 25-2 record and 20 knockouts. Benn is 25-1 with 14 stoppages. Garcia said the personal turn in their rivalry has sharpened his attention rather than unsettled him.
It kind of backfired on him. He's going to see Saturday night how many Mexicans really ride with me. He could be talking all that [expletive]. Come Saturday night, my people will come out for me.
They will see who walks out with me, and he's going to be in a shocker. I'm going to make sure to show him what type of person I am. He's going to realize, “Oh, [expletive], this [expletive] is Mexican.”
Garcia returned to the subject when asked what headlining on Mexican Independence Day weekend meant to him. He drew a line between fight promotion and a rival challenging his background.
It means a lot to me. I think that, especially because he's been kind of challenging that side of me, it kind of brings that fire in me and makes sure that I teach him a good lesson.
I'm not coming at his heritage. I'm not calling him, “You're not this, you're not that.” Who the [expletive] are you to tell me I'm not Mexican? Are you Mexican? So, it just kind of put a little bit of fire inside me, and I'm going to teach him a lesson to never disrespect me like that again.
Garcia Predicts A Breakdown And Stoppage
The rhetoric followed an earlier exchange over Tuesday's missed promotional faceoff. Garcia said he stayed away by choice because the event did not fit his established fight-week routine, not because he was struggling with the 147-pound limit.
I wasn't there because I didn't want to be. Look, we got a faceoff at the press conference, then at the weigh-ins, and then a final faceoff literally in the ring when the ref's giving you instructions.
I've been doing this for so long. I've had fight weeks in Vegas before, and I've never had to do a faceoff on Tuesday or Wednesday. I have a routine to do, and it's just something I didn't want to do.
Garcia dismissed the idea that his absence rattled Benn, though the episode extended the friction already visible when the fighters were separated at a previous press conference.
It was funny seeing him staring at himself. I don't know if it affected him. I don't really care, but I'm glad that people got a kick out of it.
Weight became a larger part of Garcia's prediction. He said he expects Benn to regain substantially more weight before the opening bell, but refused to accept that as a future explanation for defeat.
He has an extra three pounds to go, but I don't want to hear no excuses. At the end of the day, he doesn't have a rehydration clause. He's about to be 170, 175 in the ring. Isn't that what he was saying?
He's trying to set up a narrative because when he gets that ass whooped, he's going to be like, “I was drained.” No. You were 170, 175 in that ring. I'm probably going to be 157. He probably have like 20 pounds on me, but I'm about to beat his ass. It don't matter how much he weighs.
Later, Garcia said he could have made weight a day early and questioned whether Benn was as close to the limit.
We know how I was for the Barrios fight. That was just in February. This is now September. That's not too far off. I didn't stop training, so I have zero problems. Actually, if the weigh-ins were tomorrow, I'd be on weight.
He actually doesn't even look on weight. I know what he's probably planning to do because I seen a picture of him at 150. He doesn't look nowhere near that. He's probably about six pounds over right now. Probably plans on to hit the bath on Thursday night or do some drastic things, which probably will weaken him.
Technically, Garcia expects Benn to press forward because he sees few other paths for the challenger. He predicted that conditioning and speed would allow him to take control.
He doesn't have the speed or the attributes to keep up with me, so he has limited options. Those limited options are rough him up, make him uncomfortable, and try to wear him out for later in the fight.
But again, when you prepare well, I'm well-conditioned. He can bring whatever intensity he wants. I'm going to break him down and ultimately get him out of there.
It's the same level of condition. Even better, actually, conditioning-wise. You're going to see a more violent Ryan Garcia this fight. This fight is made for me to showcase my skills and what I got. You're going to see an A performance.
Garcia also rejected Benn's claim to superior mental strength and described him as an “athletic beginner.”
I don't think he's mentally stronger than me. I think he knows how to take an ass-whooping, if that's mentally strong. Every fight he looks like a balloon after. Me, I'm just going to be focused and taking advantage of his inexperience.
He's like a fancy trash can. Basically, what that means is he makes everything look good, but he's not good. Once you step in the ring with somebody like that and you're at a higher level, it becomes easy.
He's a fancy trash can, athletic beginner. We know why he's in this position: his last name, his dad. We're just going to expose that and make sure we're sharp and prepared for whatever he got. I'm the champion. He got to prove me wrong. I don't see it. He's not beating me, guaranteed.
New Promotion, Familiar Team
Asked about Oscar De La Hoya's limited presence during fight week, Garcia said he did not know the reason and was keeping his attention on the contest. His assessment of the new promotional environment was more detailed.
I try to stay out of that, to be honest. Oscar and I don't really know what's going on. For me, I just kind of stay out of it and stay focused on the fight. That's it.
You definitely see the level of preparation and the level of experience they have in media. It's really refreshing and it's cool because this is something I would want for boxing. I want people to cover it. I want people to watch it. It seems like Zuffa knows what they're doing, and that's just obvious.
Garcia said his father has remained part of a team that also draws on Eddie Reynoso, Derrick James and Joe Goossen. The return has given him continuity before his first defense, while Benn begins a new promotional chapter after signing his Zuffa Boxing agreement.
My dad has been there since the last fight, so he's kind of been there the whole time. He's always kind of been alongside Eddie, alongside Derrick, Joe even. He's always been there. We've gathered so much experience from all these other trainers. It's just flowing. Everything's flowing well, and the synergy's great.
Beyond Benn, Garcia said his championship obliges him to pursue unification and welcomed the possibility of sharing a Cinco de Mayo card with David Benavidez.
I'm a world champion, and I'm always looking to unify. I think that's the job to do.
It's something that Benavidez threw at me, and I thought that was a cool idea. I'm always down to share a date. I don't have that much ego. As long as we bring a huge event for Cinco de Mayo, why not? People would love it. Benavidez is a ferocious fighter. I'm a ferocious fighter, so it'd be a fun day for the fans.
For Saturday, however, Garcia said the desired outcome is a decisive performance rather than merely retaining the belt.
Do I want to beat him so bad and make a statement where he's not even close? Yes. Finish the job, 100 percent. I'm not looking to fight on this date and not give the fans a spectacular night. I'm here to give the fans everything they wanted and more.
