Garcia vs Benn LIVE: Result, updates and reaction after welterweight title fight

Big night ahead: Conor Benn will attempt to dethrone Ryan Garcia in Las Vegas

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Conor Benn battles Ryan Garcia tonight as he tries to achieve world champion status for the first time in his 10-year boxing career. ‘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 considerable challenge against the unpredictable Garcia, who is making the first defence of the belt he easily took from Mario Barrios back in February.

Benn’s new multi-fight deal with Zuffa Boxing begins with this maiden world title tilt, having been installed as the WBC mandatory challenger at welterweight late 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 that he had been “dragged down to the pits of hell” in an effort to get to 147lbs. But he did it successfully, before quickly piling the pounds back on with no rehydration clause in place.

Tonight’s undercard action includes a huge cruiserweight title clash between Jai Opetaia and Noel Mikaelian, following an opening win for Andres Cortes over Mark Magsayo and dramatic first-round stoppage by heavyweight prospect Da'Mazion Vanhouter. Follow Garcia vs Benn live below!

Ryan Garcia vs Conor Benn latest news

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Da'Mazion Vanhouter - America's best heavyweight prospect?

There is a lot of obvious excitement Stateside around the potential of Da'Mazion Vanhouter, with America having generally been so short on genuine heavyweight talent for such a long time now.

Given the sheer size of him, it is staggering to think that he weighed only 154 pounds when he made his professional debut back in 2022.

Some massive shots on display in that quick outing against Akpejiori, who was totally overmatched.

A crunching right hand sealed a brutal victory to move him to 13-0.

Da'Mazion Vanhouter stops Raphael Akpejiori in first round

Well, that was short-lived but eventful!

Vanhouter jumps on Akpejiori almost immediately and the Nigerian struggles to beat the count.

But then Vanhouter looks like he may have dislocated his left shoulder as he slumps to the canvas in pain.

He quickly shakes it off to smash down Akpejiori, who isn’t getting up this time.

Emphatic!

Da'Mazion Vanhouter vs Raphael Akpejiori

Only two fights to go now before tonight’s massive main event between Ryan Garcia and Conor Benn, including the chief support act - the cruiserweight title showdown between Jai Opetaia and Noel Mikaelian.

Next we pay our first and only visit to the heavyweight ranks for Da'Mazion Vanhouter vs Raphael Akpejiori over eight rounds.

21-year-old American prospect Vanhouter is 12-0 and highly-rated by Zuffa Boxing chief Dana White.

He will expect to take care of Nigerian Akpejiori, who has lost two of his last three fights.

Andres Cortes targeting Jose Valenzuela fight

The victorious Andres Cortes is asked in the ring after the fight if he is looking at a potential showdown with former WBA super-lightweight champion Jose Valenzuela in future.

“Absolutely,” he says. “Let’s get it on.”

Andres Cortes beats Mark Magsayo by unanimous decision

All three judges score the bout 97-93 in favour of Andres Cortes, who wins by unanimous decision to retain his undefeated record and move to 26-0.

Fully deserved for the Las Vegas native in front of his home crowd.

Magsayo drops to 29-3 after a real off-night.

Mark Magsayo vs Andres Cortes

The late surge from Magsayo rather peters out in the 10th and final round, which is well controlled by Cortes.

Both men raise their hands after the final bell, but this will surely go Cortes’ way on the scorecards.

His cut man deserves a lot of praise given how bad his face was looking a few rounds ago.

Mark Magsayo vs Andres Cortes

Magsayo wobbles Cortes slightly in the ninth as he continues to come on strong late in the fight.

He has likely won both the eighth and ninth, and definitely needs the 10th.

But it still feels too little, too late after those two earlier knockdowns.

He surely needs a last-gasp stoppage...

Mark Magsayo vs Andres Cortes

By no means perfect from Magsayo in the eighth, but enough to take the round.

Huge cheers from the Vegas crowd for Garcia as he is now shown walking backstage.

Mark Magsayo vs Andres Cortes

Despite his dominance for the most part, Cortes’ face is a mess with blood streaming from the nose and a nasty cut near his right eye.

That looks to rather galvanise Magsayo during the early stages of the eighth as he raises the tempo and his work rate, letting the hands go...

Mark Magsayo vs Andres Cortes

Magsayo manages to land a couple of really nice shots in round seven, but Cortes smartly fights fire with fire on both occasions and ends up having the better of the exchanges.

Having said that, there is blood coming from the nose of Cortes now and one of his eyes is swelling.

Still, he remains in firm control of this fight with only three rounds to go.