Benn Says Garcia Has 'Gone Missing'

Conor Benn is waiting on a signature — and Ryan Garcia appears to have gone quiet.

The WBC mandatory challenger at welterweight says the fight with Garcia can still happen before the end of the year, but only if the American shows up to sign the contract that has apparently been sitting unsigned for some time.

"I haven't spoken to him. He's gone missing. So all I need him to do is sign the contract so we can get the fight locked in and give everyone one hell of a fight — a potential fight of the year," Benn

Benn has done everything required on his end. A unanimous decision over Chris Eubank Jr. in their November 2025 rematch settled one of British boxing's longest-running rivalries. A win over Regis Prograis at 150 pounds in April confirmed his credentials at a higher weight class. The WBC mandatory position followed.

Garcia had previously pointed to September in Las Vegas as the target. The timeline is still possible in theory. In practice, the negotiations have hit a significant obstacle that goes beyond Garcia's silence.

Oscar De La Hoya has complicated matters considerably. The Golden Boy Promotions chief has stated his company played no part in any negotiations around the fight and has filed a cease-and-desist letter to Zuffa Boxing.

Zuffa Boxing moving forward on a deal involving a Golden Boy fighter without Golden Boy at the table creates legal exposure that makes finalising anything difficult. Benn's frustration is understandable.

Benn is the mandatory challenger, he has won his last two fights convincingly, and the opponent he needs has gone quiet while his promotional team fires legal letters at the people trying to make the match. The window for a September date is narrowing.