Garcia-Benn WBC Title Bout Official After Contractual Disputes

Ryan Garcia will defend his WBC welterweight championship against Conor Benn on 12 September at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The bout is promoted by Zuffa Boxing and Golden Boy Promotions, with Dana White and Oscar De La Hoya collaborating on the event. The fight will stream on Paramount+ globally and exclusively on DAZN in the UK and Ireland.

Talks to matchmake Garcia and Benn began several months ago, but the path to confirmation was marked by significant delays. Negotiations hit a major roadblock recently when Garcia’s promoter, Golden Boy, and his broadcaster, DAZN, issued cease-and-desist orders to Zuffa Boxing and TKO. These orders alleged tortious interference with Garcia’s contract, instructing the parties to halt their involvement in the discussions.

The legal dispute centred on Golden Boy’s contractual standing. Although its exclusive promotional deal with Garcia expired earlier this year, the promoter retains a mutual say on all of Garcia’s fights due to a co-promotional option. In its letter to Zuffa, Golden Boy claimed it had not been involved in the talks, contradicting widespread reports that a deal was close to finalisation.

Oscar De La Hoya confirmed earlier this month that he had been brought into discussions and would ensure the fight took place. This collaboration marks a convergence of two longtime promotional rivals, with White and De La Hoya working together for the mega-fight. The event follows a period of legal and contractual friction that had stalled the negotiations for months.

Garcia, who holds a record of 25 wins and two defeats, captured the WBC welterweight title with a unanimous decision win over Mario Barrios in February. His recent record includes a loss to Rolando Romero and a TKO defeat to Gervonta Davis, alongside a no-contest result against Devin Haney after a failed drug test.

Benn, entering the bout with a 25-1 record, recently transitioned from Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom to become the first marquee signing for Zuffa Boxing in February. He made his Zuffa debut in April, winning a competitive decision over former champion Regis Prograis in a co-feature bout. Benn’s career has faced scrutiny following failed drug tests in 2022, but he has since returned to the ring with high-profile victories, including a dominant performance against Chris Eubank Jr. in November.

The fight represents a pivotal moment for both fighters. For Benn, it is a major step following his departure from Matchroom and his debut win for Zuffa. For Garcia, it is the first defence of his WBC title, ending a period of uncertainty surrounding his promotional obligations and contractual disputes.