Conor Benn has vowed to stop Ryan Garcia and "cause havoc" when the pair meet for the WBC welterweight title in Las Vegas on September 12.
The fight will be Benn's first-ever world title bout, pitting him against WBC welterweight champion Garcia, one of the most high-profile fighters in the sport. The pair have exchanged heated words in the build-up, including a heated face-off at their Zuffa press conference that had to be broken up by security.
Benn told Sky Sports the war of words does not bother him. "It's all just noise," he said. "It doesn't really concern me, doesn't bother me. I'm just coming there to take his title off him."
"I plan on going in there and getting a stoppage, for sure. I'm just going to go in there and do what I do, which is plant one on his chin and try and put him to sleep. I prepare diligently hard and always put the work in. I've taken it with both hands and I'm coming in there to cause havoc."
Building toward a world title shot
Benn heads into the fight off the back of a win over Regis Prograis, which came on the undercard of Tyson Fury's comeback fight against Arslanbek Makhmudov in April at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the same venue that staged Benn's two-fight rivalry with Chris Eubank Jr.
Benn avenged his first professional defeat against Eubank Jr in their November 2025 rematch. He now has his sights set on emulating his father, former champion Nigel Benn, by winning the WBC belt Nigel held and defended in 11 fights between 1992 and 1995.
"For me to get a world title shot, the prestigious WBC world title, the belt my dad won, it's a blessing," Benn said. "That's not my driving factor. My driving factor is to do it for myself. It's for me to prove that I'm one of the best in the world."
Embracing the underdog role
Garcia represents a significant step up in opposition for Benn, who says he is relishing being the underdog heading into the fight.
"I like being the underdog," Benn said. "I think I perform at my best. I think every single one of my fights has led me to this moment. All the pressure I've had early on in my career has prepared me for nights like those at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium."
"It's prepared me for the noise and the drama and the chaos. So come September 12, it's nothing new, nothing different."
