Ryan Garcia knocks out Conor Benn to retain WBC welterweight championship - as it happened
Ryan Garcia successfully defended his WBC welterweight title against Conor Benn in a high-profile Las Vegas bout. The fight was marked by the controversial pasts of both fighters, who have previously faced drug-related suspensions.
Why it matters
The event highlights the boxing industry's tendency to prioritize high-revenue matchups despite the ethical baggage of the participating athletes.
Hello and welcome to Las Vegas, where Ryan Garcia and Conor Benn will meet tonight for the WBC welterweight championship in a main event that offers a revealing snapshot of boxing in 2026.
Four years ago Benn’s career was thrown into limbo after two positive drug tests scuppered his blockbuster fight with Chris Eubank Jr. Two years ago Garcia was serving a one-year suspension after testing positive for ostarine around his career-best victory over Devin Haney , a result subsequently overturned to a no-contest . Tonight they will each collect an eight-figure payday beneath the lights of T-Mobile Arena, with reports putting the combined purse at around $30m. Few sports are better at turning yesterday’s scandal into tomorrow’s main event.
Also covering this story
6 other newsrooms covered this event. We read each version separately.
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