Ryan Garcia promises 'whooping' for Conor Benn after awards clash

Ryan Garcia says his fight with Conor Benn has turned personal after a confrontation at an awards ceremony. The American vowed to settle the score when the pair meet in the ring.

“He's from across the pond - his name is Conor Benn. He's been talking a lot, he's talking crazy. He actually confronted me at an awards show two years ago. My wife was there and he pressed me, grabbed me, so it's a little personal. We'll be ready to go. I'm going to put a whooping on this man.”

— Ryan Garcia, via BBC Sport

What Ryan Garcia said

Garcia told BBC Sport that Benn grabbed him in front of his wife two years ago, an incident the former interim lightweight champion has not forgotten. The welterweight clash has been discussed for months, with both men campaigning at similar weights. Garcia has not fought since his win over Devin Haney was overturned to a no-contest following a failed drug test.

What it moves

Garcia's comments suggest the fight carries needle beyond the usual promotional sparring. Benn has been pushing for high-profile American opponents since his own doping case derailed a Chris Eubank Jr rematch. The bout would mark a significant step up in weight for Garcia, who has campaigned primarily at lightweight and super-lightweight.

Source: bbc.com. Full Ryan Garcia fight history and recent news at boxingnews.com.