Garcia impressively defends WBC welterweight title

After taking 10 years to win his first world championship, Ryan Garcia on Saturday night needed only 4 minutes, 25 seconds to finish off Conor Benn in the first defense of his WBC 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 second round. Moments later, with the Englishman on the ropes, Garcia (26-2, 21 KOs) 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 announced sold-out crowd of 18,855 into a frenzy.

Ryan Garcia, left, punches Conor Benn in their welterweight championship fight in Las Vegas on Saturday night.

Photo: AP

“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 added. “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.

For Garcia, he solidified himself in the 147-pound (67kg) weight class as a durable, legitimate titleholder rather than a gifted attraction whose career has often 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 Teofimo Lopez, who was ringside, or another major showdown with Devin Haney, who was also in attendance.

Garcia called out both of them.

“Where are you at?” he said. “It’s unification time.”

For the 29-year-old Benn (25-2), it is 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.

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.