Not So Fast On Date For Ryan Garcia-Conor Benn

Ryan Garcia revealed a date and a place Monday night on a national network television for his expected WBC title defense against Conor Benn. However, the deal is not done and the date he gave seemed to be suspect.

Appearing on NBC’s "The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon" late Monday, Garcia teased a major fight announcement before confirming that he and Benn are targeting a September 12th showdown and "in Vegas."

“We are fighting Sept. 12th; it will be in Las Vegas,” Garcia  told Fallon. “The opponent, let’s just say he’s from the other side.”

After Fallon looked confused, Garcia clarified that he meant Benn, the British contender.

“He’s across the pond,” Garcia said. “I’ll just say his name because I love this show — Conor Benn. He’s been talking a lot, talking crazy. He actually confronted me at an awards show two years ago. He grabbed me, so it’s a little personal. We’ll be ready to get him.”

Although Garcia publicly announced the matchup, sources told insider Dan Rafael that the bout is still being negotiated and has not yet been finalized.

And another complication is- the date Garcia gave in September, as that is already confirmed for the 2026 return of future hall of famer Canelo Alvarez, as he will fight newly elevated WBC super middleweight champ Christan Mbilli in Saudi Arabia on that day.

Further "connecting the dots," that PPV bout is being bankrolled by Turki Alashikh and the Saudi Entertainment and Leisure Authority to be staged in Riyadh.

Alashikh would also be the money behind the Garcia-Benn battle, which would also be a PPV and not likely to be on the same day, much less near the same time window in prime time in the U.S. and Mexico (for Alvarez's massive fan base there).

The 27 year old Garcia, 25-2, 20 KOs, captured the WBC title with a dominant decision victory over Mario Barrios on February 21st in Las Vegas. It is Garcia's first world title win that has counted. His previous upset of Devin Haney for the WBC 140 lb. title was voided to a no-contest for a positive PED test and subsequent suspension.

Soon after Garcia's win Benn signed a massive deal with Zuffa Boxing, and scored his own dominant 10 round decision win over former junior welterweight champion Regis Prograis on April 11th in London. That bout was streamed on Netflix, as part of the Tyson Fury-Arslanbek Makhmudov card with Alashikh financing it.

The Benn fight marked the first appearance under Benn’s initial $15 million agreement with Zuffa Boxing. Shortly afterward, Benn signed a new five-fight deal with the promotion, which also has a partnership with Paramount+ for monthly U.S. events.

The 29 year old Benn, 25-1, 14 KOs, is the son of British boxing legend Nigel Benn and he previously moved up to middleweight for two massive profile fights in England agaisnt against rival Chris Eubank Jr., the son of another British legend, in 2025. After losing their first meeting in a bout that was widely considered Fight of the 2025, Benn avenged the defeat in the rematch handling the bigger Eubank Jr. and even, knocking him down twice in the final round for an easy decision victory.

Following his April win over Prograis, Benn immediately called for a title shot against Garcia.

“Ryan Garcia next. I want a WBC world title,” Benn said in the ring. “That’s what I’ve been dreaming of and working toward for the past 10 years. He can get it next and get a better version of me.”

The rumored Garcia Benn matchup had been targeted August 15th, but it didn't come together quick enough this May for ample time to get everything worked out and promoted for that date.

And, to this point, it's still not ironed out for September and that date, either.

It's expected that Alashikh and Canelo Alvarez will address what time his title bout will be happening in Saudi Arabia for September 12th/early the 13th when they meet with the media in Egypt this weekend for the Oleksandr Usyk-Rico Verhoeven world heavyweight title PPV.

A clue for accommodation of the possible Garcia Benn fight would be- if Alvarez is going to fight in the mid-afternoon USA and Mexico time (late Saturday night in Riyadh). Then, it could be possible, even if financially ridiculous, that a Garcia-Benn PPV bout put on by the same financier, Alashikh, who wouldn't even be able to attend, happens late Saturday night in Vegas.

Still, much to sort out. No matter what Garcia says is happening.