Garcia vs Benn LIVE: Start time, results and updates from welterweight title fight

Conor Benn fights Ryan Garcia tonight in a bid to become a world champion for the first time. ‘The Destroyer’ travels to Las Vegas in an attempt to claim the WBC welterweight title, full of confidence after following his sensational rematch win over arch-rival Chris Eubank Jr with a decision victory against Regis Prograis last time out. But he faces a massive challenge against the unpredictable Garcia, who is making the first defence of the belt he easily took from Mario Barrios earlier this year.

Benn’s new multi-fight deal with Zuffa Boxing begins with the first world title challenge of his 10-year career, having been installed as the WBC mandatory challenger at welterweight last year. It is his first return to the division since April 2022 and he had to complete a gruelling cut to make weight, revealing he had been “dragged to the pits of hell” in an effort to get down to 147lbs. But he did it successfully, before quickly piling it back on with no rehydration clause in place.

Tonight’s undercard action includes a huge cruiserweight title unification clash between Jai Opetaia and Noel Mikaelian. Follow Garcia vs Benn live below!

Ryan Garcia vs Conor Benn latest news

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Conor Benn arrives at T-Mobile Arena

The challenger is in the building...

Conor Benn looking to follow in Nigel's footsteps with WBC title

It remains very much a family affair for Conor Benn, who is still being supported every step of the way in his career by famous father Nigel.

It would mean a lot to Conor to pick up a WBC world title tonight, with Nigel having reigned as the fearsome WBC super-middleweight champion between 1992-96.

“Ah, it’s a blessing,” Benn said of having his dad by his side. “I mean, there’s not really much more I can say on that.

“It's a huge blessing in my life that me and my dad get to share these moments together and also live it together.

“We do it together, you know? If my dad wasn't here, I wouldn’t be doing it.

“It really is a father-son thing, and it feels that way. I’ll forever be my dad's son, and the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.”

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Conor Benn: The pressure is all on Ryan Garcia

Conor Benn claims the bright lights of Las Vegas hold absolutely no fear for him tonight as he insisted that all the pressure is firmly on defending champion Ryan Garcia.

“I've fought in Vegas before. I headlined in Vegas before at the Cosmo,” Benn said this week.

“I’ve fought in Florida. I fought at Nassau Coliseum in New York. So, it's no secret that I've fought here [in the U.S.], but many times.

“Also, coming off the back of three stadium shows in front of 65,000 people, back-to-back, to then headlining in Vegas, yeah, it definitely puts you in good stead.

“There's no pressure. The pressure's all on Ryan.”

Benn is also relishing his underdog tag, adding: “I always go into every fight with an underdog mentality. Every fight.

“I could be fighting anybody. It's the underdog mentality. It’s the way I prepare.”

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Mark Magsayo vs Andres Cortes begins main card

Tonight’s main card will be under way very shortly at T-Mobile Arena.

It kicks off with a 10-rounder in the lightweight division.

Filipino former WBC featherweight champion Mark Magsayo faces Las Vegas native Andres Cortes.

This is the 29-2 Magsayo’s second fight under the Zuffa Boxing banner, having stopped Ireland’s Feargal McCrory in the fifth round on his lightweight debut in April.

The unbeaten, 25-0 Cortes outpointed Eridson García on that same card at the UFC Apex.

Oswaldo Molina dominates Pablo Rubio in prelim finale

An entertaining end to a decent prelim bill overall as Oswaldo Molina dominates and deservedly defeats Pablo Rubio by unanimous decision to stay unbeaten and improve to 9-0.

The three judges scored the six-rounder 60-54, 59-55, 59-55 in favour of 19-year-old Mexican prospect ‘Pitufo’, who showed great control and discipline throughout.

Molina is emotional in the ring after the biggest victory of his career so far on certainly the grandest stage.

Ryan Garcia: Conor Benn won't last five rounds

Ryan Garcia is backing himself to produce an early stoppage in tonight’s blockbuster main event, insisting the fight won’t go beyond five rounds and that Conor Benn’s style is tailor-made for him.

“I'm gonna put a stamp on this fight. This fight's not gonna be close,” he said.

“I understand everybody's all, ‘Oh, Benn this and that,’ but this fight is not going over five [rounds]. It’s five and below.

“I’d be sad if I don’t knock him out in five and below.”

He added: “I’m just too skilled for him.

“This guy, he has a style that just fits perfect for me. He attacks – I don’t have to go looking for him.

“He doesn’t know how to fight any other way. And if he does fight any other way, I win easily… If he does, we’re getting to it.

“There’s no other way. I’m in this. I’m fully equipped, fully in shape. I have no issues. I could go 15-20 rounds. I’m ready.”

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Ryan Garcia in the house

Ryan Garcia has arrived at T-Mobile Arena ahead of tonight’s huge main event, which is approximately three hours away now.

Oswaldo Molina vs Pablo Rubio

It’s time for the headline bout of this early prelim card at T-Mobile Arena.

It’s a six-round showdown between a pair of undefeated lightweight contenders.

9-0 Mexican Oswaldo ‘Pitufo’ Molina is up against Pablo ‘The Shark’ Rubio, who is 15-0.

This could be explosive...

Abel Gonzalez beats Raul Salomon by unanimous decision

An intriguing eight-round super-middleweight contest between Abel Gonzalez and Raul Salomon, which Gonzalez wins by unanimous decision.

A tough test as expected and he did well to shake off that shock first-round knockdown.

All three judges scored the bout 77-74 in his favour.

‘El Jefe’ moves to 9-0 and remains undefeated.

Conor Benn on weight cut: 'I've been dragged down to the pits of hell'

So just how tough has this weight cut back down to 147lbs been for Conor Benn, almost four-and-a-half years since he last fought in the division?

"It's been extremely difficult," ‘The Destroyer’ told BBC Sport earlier this week.

"It feels like I've been dragged down to the pits of hell, had a fight with Satan and God brought me back to life.

"Making weight has been the hardest thing I've done. I haven't made weight for four-and-a-half years so it's going to be hard.

"But I won't moan when I'm getting paid a fortune to headline in Vegas for a world title. I know what I signed up for."