Conor Benn and Ryan Garcia had to be separated as tempers flared at a chaotic press conference for their Las Vegas showdown later this year.
Garcia will defend his WBC welterweight title against the British fighter on September 12, with the pair finally agreeing to meet in the ring this week after years of trash talk online.
Benn is moving back down to 147lbs for his first ever world-title shot after fighting twice at 160lbs and then at 150lbs in his last three contests, making him a huge outsider up against the hard-hitting champion.
It still promises to be a fascinating matchup at T-Mobile Arena, as well as a fiery build-up between two fighters with a clear disdain for one another.
And Garcia and Benn have wasted no time in lighting the fuse just days after agreeing a deal for their September bout.
At the opening press conference in New York City on Saturday, the bitter rivals made a beeline for one another before being apprehended by Zuffa Boxing chief Dana White and members of security.
Conor Benn and Ryan Garcia had to be separated at a fiery opening press conference Saturday
Benn and Garcia are set to collide in a highly-anticipated Las Vegas bout on September 12
After an animated Garcia stood up while claiming it will be an easy night for him on September 12, Benn said: ‘I know you’re getting all excited, but I’ll come over there and smack those glasses straight off your face.’
‘You won’t do s*** I promise you,’ Garcia replied to spark the melee on stage at Fanatics Fest.
Benn responded by desperately trying to get over to the American star, who also had to be held back by security in a dramatic moment.
‘I’m getting too old for this s***,’ White joked as the war of words continued.
Benn and Garcia eventually squared off in a head-to-head, although the UFC President kept himself firmly in the middle to prevent a scrap between the two men.
Both fighters have bounced back from drug-related scandals in recent years, with Garcia’s majority-decision victory over another of his fierce foes, Devin Haney, in 2024 being changed to a no-contest after he tested positive for banned substance ostarine.
The two bitter rivals are finally set to collide in the ring after years of trash talk online
After serving a year’s suspension, he suffered a points defeat to Rolando Romero in May 2025 before claiming the WBC strap by toppling Mario Barrios in February.
As for Benn, he infamously spent close to three years in boxing wilderness after testing positive for clomifene ahead of his scheduled fight against arch-nemesis Chris Eubank Jr in 2022.
The Londoner’s suspension was ultimately lifted in 2024 after lengthy legal proceedings, before he lost to the naturally heavier Eubank Jr via unanimous decision when they finally met at 160lbs in April of last year.
He avenged that defeat by claiming his own unanimous-decision win in the rematch last November, with his last contest against Regis Prograis down at 150lbs ending in the same result back in April.
