Ryan Garcia Stops Conor Benn in Round Two to Defend WBC Title

Ryan Garcia retained his WBC welterweight title with a second-round TKO victory over Conor Benn on Saturday night at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The fight, which took place on September 12, 2026, ended abruptly after Garcia dropped Benn with a powerful right hand. Benn beat the referee's count but was overwhelmed by a subsequent barrage of punches, prompting referee Thomas Taylor to stop the contest. The decisive sequence began in the second round when Garcia, who had been using his left hook effectively in the first, landed a crushing right that sent Benn to the canvas. Although Benn rose quickly, he was unable to defend himself as Garcia continued his attack against the ropes. The stoppage occurred just 85 seconds into the second round. Benn did not protest the referee's decision after the fight. In his post-fight comments, Garcia expressed gratitude and mentioned feeling "at peace," crediting worship music in his locker room. He also called out Teofimo Lopez, the WBA welterweight champion, as a potential future opponent. The quick victory sparked debate among observers about whether the stoppage was premature.