Ryan Garcia and Conor Benn will square off in one of the biggest boxing matches of the year on Saturday, Sept. 12, in Las Vegas, and the initial predictions and picks lean toward the defending champion.
Garcia (25-2, 20 KOs) is putting his WBC Welterweight title on the line for the first time since winning the belt in dominating fashion over Mario Barrios in February. But the Southern California native is just 2-2 with a no contest in his past five bouts after 23-consecutive wins to begin his professional career. The success transformed him into a boxing star despite igniting controversy by testing positive for a banned substance in 2024 and earning a temporary ban from the WBC over racially offensive comments made on social media.
Benn (25-1,
14 KOs) is coming down in weight for this fight after avenging his only professional loss to Chris Eubank Jr. in 2025 at 160 pounds and Regis Prograis in April at 150 pounds. The son of former British world champion and 2026 International Boxing Hall of Fame inductee Nigel Benn has said in multiple interviews during the lead-up to Saturday's bout that he plans to return to the 160-pound middleweight class after this fight.
Garcia is represented by Oscar de la Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions, while Benn recently signed with UFC CEO Dana White's Zuffa Boxing, which pit the two rival promoters against one another outside the ring ahead of their clients doing battle inside it. The stakes are about as high as they can get in modern boxing.
Here's a breakdown of what the experts think, including picks and predictions for Ryan Garcia vs. Conor Benn with the WBC Welterweight title on the line:
Ryan Garcia vs. Conor Benn odds
According to BetMGM, Ryan Garcia is the favorite to successfully defend the WBC welterweight title against Conor Benn on Sept. 12, 2026.
- Ryan Garcia: -300
- Conor Benn: +225
Ryan Garcia vs. Conor Benn picks, predictions
WBA Welterweight champion Teofimo Lopez: Garcia wins
"I think Conor Benn is going to show the aggression at first, he’s going to bring the fight to Ryan,” Lopez recently told DAZN. “I think as long as Ryan weathers the storm, there’s a possibility of Ryan (beating) Conor Benn that night. ... It’s all about who wants it more and it looks like Conor Benn at this point in time with all the training and everything of that nature, but the technique is not there. Conor Benn has a great style, but I think it’s kind of made for Ryan Garcia to win that night.”
Former boxing champion Terrance Crawford: Benn can win
"I think Conor Benn. I think (Rolando Romero) showed us all if you don't get hit with the left hook and you land your big shots that you can neutralize Ryan and his ability to land his left hook. So I think Conor Benn, going in with a great game plan can be victorious.
WBC lightweight champion Dalton Smith: Garcia should be favored
"As a Brit, you want (Benn) to do it because that would be a good fight for me to be a part of as well, but I think Ryan has the speed, the youth, the speed and power, I just favor Ryan in that fight."
Boxingnewsonline.net: Robert Garcia picks Ryan Garcia
Robert Garcia said: "When it comes to making his prediction, coach Garcia does not focus on how the weight cut – which Benn has admitted is ‘brutal’ – will affect the Brit, rather how Ryan Garcia will prepare. The champion has blown hot and cold over the years, but Robert Garcia believes that fans will see a focused ‘King Ry’ come fight night, culminating in his 21st knockout win."
When is Ryan Garcia vs Conor Benn fight?
Ryan Garcia vs. Conor Benn is on Saturday, Sept. 12 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
- Date: Saturday, Sept. 12
- Time: 8p.m. ET
- Ryan Garcia vs. Conor Benn main event ring walks (approximately): 11 p.m. ET / 8 p.m. PT / 4 a.m. BST (Sunday, Sept. 13)
- Location: T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada
Watch Garcia vs. Benn on Paramount+
How to watch Ryan Garcia vs Conor Benn
The Ryan Garcia vs. Conor Benn fight will be available only on Paramount+ in the U.S. and on DAZN Pay-Per-View and Ultimate Tier in the UK.
Watch Garcia vs Benn with Paramount+
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ryan Garcia vs. Conor Benn picks, predictions: Who wins title fight?
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