Barry McGuigan says this is the biggest bout of Conor Benn's career, a first world title fight against a marquee opponent in Las Vegas. It doesn't come much better than sharing a ring with Ryan Garcia on the Strip for the WBC welterweight belt.
The two assignments against Chris Eubank Jnr were high-profile, high-octane affairs framed by the rivalry associated with their famous fathers. But this is a new dimension and, hand on heart, McGuigan cannot with certainty pick a winner.
Weight Class Challenges
Benn's last bout against Regis Prograis was his first at welterweight in four years, having gone up to light-middle and then middle to take on Eubank Jnr. Coming back to 147 pounds is a monumental task after so long at the higher weight. Will Benn get his strength back, or enough of it, in the 24 hours after the weigh-in to deliver a performance? You can see how drained he looks on social media posts.
Garcia is coming from the other direction. Though he has been campaigning at welter in his last couple of fights, he started out at super-featherweight and is the smaller man. But he has carried the extra speed with him and his devastating left hook can still be a weapon, particularly early in the contest.
Fight Dynamics
Benn always comes to fight, standing straight in front of you, which could play right into Garcia's hands. Benn's ability to absorb any early onslaught will be determined by how much strength remains after boiling himself down. Garcia could hurt Benn early and get him out of there. Alternatively if Benn gets through the early rounds he is in the fight.
If you stay on Garcia, like Rolando Romero did last year, you get success. Benn is more explosive than Rolly, has better feet, but does he have the chin?
Experience and Atmosphere
Garcia has mixed in much better company yet mostly at a lighter weight. He is also proven in this environment, a global superstar used to the pressure of the Big Show. Can Benn cope at this level? Apart from a tired Eubank Jnr he hasn't campaigned in the same rarefied air.
He is also the away fighter against a fan favourite. The Vegas experience is unlike any other. The fight crowd is not necessarily made up of boxing devotees but punters just there for the occasion. It's a different vibe. Garcia thrives on it, a box-office star who will milk the crowd and use it to his advantage. That might just be his superpower, giving him enough of an edge to get the job done.
