Ryan Garcia defends his welterweight title with TKO of Conor Benn
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LAS VEGAS — After taking 10 years to win his first world championship, Ryan Garcia needed only 4 minutes 25 seconds to finish off Conor Benn on Saturday night in the first defense of his World Boxing Council welterweight title.
“I kind of figured he would just come at me crazy,” Garcia said. “Second round, I said I’m tired of him coming forward; I’m gonna stand my ground a little bit ... and then he got caught with a hellacious one.”
Garcia’s sharp right hand to the jaw put Benn on the canvas early in the round. Moments later, with the Englishman on the ropes, Garcia (26-2, 21 knockouts) served a flurry of punches that prompted referee Thomas Taylor to step in and end the contest at the 1:25 mark and send the sold-out crowd of 18,855 at T-Mobile Arena into a frenzy.
”He’s exactly what I thought he was; he went in and tried to fight me. I think he needs to be a little bit more patient,” Garcia said. “I don’t think he has enough experience. I think he will be back. I have a new level of respect for him.”
The bout was more than another high-profile main event, as it marked a career-defining crossroads for both fighters.
Garcia solidified himself in the 147-pound weight class as a durable, legitimate titleholder rather than a gifted attraction whose career often has been defined by controversy, inconsistency and unrealized potential.
The convincing victory positioned Garcia for a lucrative welterweight fight against the division’s other leading names, including Teófimo López, who was ringside, or another showdown with Devin Haney, who also was in attendance.
For the 29-year-old Benn (25-2), it’s likely back to the middleweight division after failing in his first world-title opportunity and a chance to escape the considerable shadow of his father, former two-division champion Nigel Benn.
Conor Benn was transported to a hospital after the fight for observation.
In the co-main event, Jai Opetaia (31-0, 24 KOs) patiently weathered several cagey rounds before stopping Noel Mikaelian in the ninth round of their scheduled 12-round lineal cruiserweight championship fight.
A strong defensive effort coupled with another three-touchdown game by running back Wayne Knight powers UCLA to a 28-10 victory over San Diego State.
Opetaia stunned Mikaelian (28-4) with a multipunch combination and two crushing hooks, then sent him backward into the ropes with a powerful right hand. Referee Harvey Dock administered a standing eight-count before determining Mikaelian could not continue, ending the competitive fight.
Da’Mazion Vanhouter (13-0, 10 KOs) wasted no time in his scheduled eight-round heavyweight bout, delivering a crushing right hand at the 1:58 mark of the first round for a knockout of Raphael Akpejiori (19-4).
In the 10-round lightweight bout that opened the main card, Andres Cortes (26-0) remained undefeated with a unanimous decision over former champion Mark Magsayo (29-3), with all three judges scoring the fight 97-93.
Ramirez writes for the Associated Press.
