Garcia Urges Caution Over Benn Fight

Ryan Garcia has pumped the brakes on reports that his fight with Conor Benn is a done deal, revealing that negotiations are still ongoing and that September 12 in Las Vegas is not yet the confirmed reality it has been presented as in some corners of the media.

"The truth is, I have a potential fight with Conor Benn. Nothing too official right now. Me and my manager are working on figuring out the details, but it looks good. But until it's finalized, it's hard to say it's going to for sure happen because I know everyone's saying September 12th in Las Vegas at T-Mobile. I could say that I'm going to fight September 12th in Vegas, but the opponent is a question mark. Or let's just say there's a slight asterisk on it,” Garcia

The walk-back is notable given how publicly Garcia had previously committed to the matchup, including announcing it on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. The promotional obstacle that existed when Garcia first named Benn — the fact that the two fighters operate under different banners, with Benn signed to Dana White's Zuffa Boxing and Garcia with Golden Boy Promotions and Oscar De La Hoya — has clearly not been fully resolved despite the apparent momentum behind the fight.

The timeline still points toward September 12. Garcia acknowledged the date, the venue, and the opponent as the direction things are heading — the asterisk he is placing on it is a negotiating reality rather than a fundamental change of direction. Both sides want the fight.

What Garcia's comments do is manage expectations at a moment when the deal has not yet closed. September 12 in Las Vegas at the T-Mobile Arena remains the target. Until the contracts are signed, it stays a potential fight