LAS VEGAS – The attention finds Ryan Garcia wherever he goes. He's used to it, and perhaps hardened by it.
Ahead of his title fight Saturday, Garcia (25-2) is letting much of what's said roll off him. However, opponent Conor Benn has seemingly found one angle to get under his skin, especially considering the occasion.
The 12-round title bout takes place Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas and is promoted as part of a day-long celebration of Mexican Independence Day by TKO, which also has a Noche UFC event running earlier in the day in Glendale, Ariz.
In the lead-up to the fight, however, Benn (25-1) has poked fun at Garcia, who is Mexican-American, for not speaking Spanish fluently, calling himself more Mexican than Garcia, and offering to translate.
"It's definitely given me a more intense level of focus," Garcia told MMA Junkie and other reporters at a pre-fight news conference Wednesday at Meta APEX. "So it kind of backfired on him. He's going to see Saturday night how many Mexicans really ride with me. He could be talking all that sh*t. He's believing those comments. But come Saturday night, my people will come out for me. They will see who walks out with me. He's going to be in a shocker. I'm going to make sure to show him what type of person I am. He's going to realize, 'Oh sh*t. This f*cker is really Mexican.'"
Garcia is second-generation American-born. His mother was born in Los Angeles and his father was born in Chicago. However, his grandparents were from Anahuac, Mexico. Saturday's holiday means something to Garcia, regardless of Benn's prods.
"Well, it means a lot to me," Garcia said. "I think that especially because he's been challenging that side of me, it brings that fire in me and makes sure I teach him a good lesson. I'm not coming at his heritage. I'm not calling him, 'You're not this. You're not that.' Who the f*ck are you to tell me you're not Mexican? Are you Mexican? It just kind of put a little bit of fire inside me. I'm going to teach him a lesson to never disrespect me like that again."
As for the other, more frequently-heard criticisms, Garcia has learned to block them out completely. The spotlight has been on him from a young age, and he's always made himself present in the pop culture conversation. It's elevated him to new levels, particularly with his boxing abilities often backing up his words.
"They're going to look any angle to stop that rise," Garcia said. "But I have a vision. I understand that there's a new way of promoting yourself. There's a new way of media. I don't let what anybody says really get to me. As long as I'm preparing well and I'm sharp, I don't really care what they say. They've been saying that since I was doing Instagram back in the day. 'He's an Instagram fighter.' Now, I'm 'a streamer.' It's the same thing, just a different lingo. I'm not really too concerned about people's opinions. But yeah, I'm going to keep streaming and keep enjoying myself for whenever I want to do it."
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Ryan Garcia explains why Conor Benn's 'more Mexican' comment will backfire
