Ryan Garcia vs. Conor Benn: Finally Official
Ryan Garcia has promised to stop Conor Benn in five rounds or less when they finally share a ring on September 12 in Las Vegas — and honestly, I’m not sure anyone’s bluffing here.
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The WBC welterweight title fight was announced last week and confirmed with the kind of press conference that reminds you why boxing’s promotional theater still works. Garcia (25-2, 20 KOs) and Benn (25-1, 14 KOs) had to be separated by security at Fanatics Fest in New York after a face-off that turned into a shoving match. Garcia grabbed Benn, security rushed the stage, and the whole thing ended with both men screaming promises of violence. It was electric.
Garcia broke the news on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, framing it as personal — he claims Benn confronted him at an awards show two years ago. “He pressed up on me, grabbed me, so it’s a little personal,” Garcia said. “I’m going to really put a whopping on this man and we will send him back to the UK sipping on some tea.”
Benn, who earned his spot as the WBC’s mandatory challenger at 147 pounds, returned to the win column in April with a unanimous decision over former 140-pound champion Regis Prograis. He’s durable, he’s strong, and this will be his first world title shot. But Garcia’s hand speed — that left hook in particular — is a different level of problem.
I’ve gone back and forth on this one. Garcia’s chin has been questioned since the Gervonta Davis knockdown and the Haney losses. But he looked sharp in his last outing and Benn, while game, isn’t quite at the elite level Garcia’s been sharing a ring with. I’m picking Garcia by late-round stoppage — round eight, not the five he’s promising — but if Benn lands something clean early, all bets are off.
The fight headlines a Ring Magazine card co-promoted by Golden Boy and Zuffa Boxing at T-Mobile Arena, live on Paramount+ and DAZN.
Serrano Chases History on TikTok
Amanda Serrano will attempt to break Christy Martin’s all-time women’s knockout record on August 21 when she defends her unified featherweight titles against Lucrecia Manzur — in a broadcast that’s making history of its own.
The fight will stream exclusively on TikTok LIVE, the first professional championship boxing event on the platform. Serrano (49-4-1, 32 KOs) tied Martin’s record of 32 knockouts in May when she stopped Cheyenne Hanson. One more finish against Manzur (14-4, 7 KOs), the WBO’s No. 2-ranked contender, puts her alone at the top. It would also be her 50th professional victory.
“Every time I step into the ring, I’m fighting for Puerto Rico,” Serrano said. “On August 21, I have the opportunity to make history for my island.”
The Most Valuable Promotions card takes place at Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula, California. Whether TikTok’s audience translates to boxing pay-per-view numbers is an open question — but Serrano, who’s been fighting on the biggest stages for over a decade, deserves a moment that breaks through the noise. Fifty wins, 33 knockouts, and the all-time record? That’s a Hall of Fame resume before she even retires.
Charlo’s Visa Denial: Another Setback
Jermall Charlo’s return to the ring has hit yet another roadblock. The former two-division champion was denied a visa to enter Australia for his scheduled July 25 fight against Koen Mazoudier on the Spence-Tszyu undercard.
Australian authorities cited the country’s strict character requirements under Section 501 of the Migration Act, likely related to Charlo’s legal history in the United States. No Limit Boxing confirmed the cancellation, and a replacement opponent for Mazoudier has not yet been named.
It’s a tough break for Charlo, who has fought only twice since June 2021. He returned in November 2023 with a win over Jose Benavidez Jr., and was reportedly training hard — even posting a video of himself weighing 172.3 pounds, ready for super middleweight. “Unfortunately, I will not be able to fight next Saturday,” Charlo wrote. “I’ve been training nonstop for the last three months and was ready to make a statement.”
The bigger question: where does he go from here? Charlo is 36 with nearly four years of inactivity. At some point, promoters stop waiting.
The July 25 Avalanche
This weekend might be the busiest of the year. Three major events across two continents:
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (DAZN PPV): Anthony Joshua returns against Albanian knockout artist Kristian Prenga. The undercard features two world title fights — Hamzah Sheeraz defending his WBO super middleweight belt against Simon Zachenhuber, and Josh Kelly putting his IBF super welterweight title on the line against Caoimhin Agyarko.
Sydney, Australia (PBC PPV on Prime Video): Errol Spence Jr. returns from his long layoff to face Tim Tszyu in a junior middleweight showdown that could define the division. The grand arrivals this week featured plenty of tension — Spence and Tszyu traded snubs and staredowns, setting the stage for a fight that’s been brewing for over a year.
New York (Paramount+): Zuffa Boxing 09 at The Theater at Madison Square Garden, headlined by Edgar Berlanga vs. Steven Butler, with Richardson Hitchins on the undercard.
Filipino Corner: Cuarto Returns, Suarez Pushes for Navarrete
Former IBF minimumweight champion Rene Mark “Might Mouse” Cuarto (24-8-2, 14 KOs) returns to action this Saturday, July 25, at the Elorde Sports Complex in Paranaque City. He faces Robert Paradero (19-14-2, 13 KOs) of Bukidnon in a scheduled bout promoted by Gabriel “Bebot” Elorde Jr.
Cuarto, 29, is a former world champion looking to climb back into title contention. He stopped Clyde Azarcon in two rounds last August and will be fighting in front of a home crowd. Paradero comes in on a seven-fight losing streak, so this is a fight Cuarto should win — and needs to win convincingly to stay relevant in a stacked light flyweight division.
Meanwhile, Charly Suarez’s team has formally asked the WBO to enforce a rematch with unified super featherweight champion Emanuel Navarrete. Suarez obliterated Manuel Avila in one round and solidify his mandatory position. If the WBO grants the request, we could see a Filipino title shot before the end of the year.
Bottom Line
September is shaping up to be an absolute monster — Garcia-Benn, Canelo-Mbilli on the same weekend, and now Pacquiao-Mayweather 2 still looming at the end of the month. But before we get there, this weekend alone has enough firepower to keep any boxing fan glued to their screen. Joshua needs a statement win, Spence needs to shake off the rust, and a former Filipino champion in Cuarto needs to remind everyone he’s still dangerous.
If you’re Filipino like me, Saturday’s a good day to be a fight fan — from the Jeddah Superdome all the way to Paranaque.