Ryan Garcia was a no-show for his scheduled face-off with Conor Benn on Tuesday evening, just days before the pair are due to meet in the ring for the WBC welterweight title on Saturday night in Las Vegas.
Garcia is set to put his WBC welterweight title on the line in the Sin City showdown, which will mark Benn's first fight at welterweight since he dismantled Chris van Heerden in 2022.
Benn's father steps in for face-off
With Garcia absent, Benn's father Nigel stepped in and pretended to face off with his son. Nigel won a WBC title in 1992 when he defeated Mauro Galvano to become the organisation's super-middleweight champion, and he went on to defend it nine times before losing it to Thulani Malinga.
Speaking after the no-show, Benn said his upcoming rival "didn't turn up," before adding: "I apologise for Ryan doing what Ryan does and bottling it. We turn up, we're here, ready for the face-off. Come Saturday, he's in for a war."
Garcia responds on Instagram
Garcia later took to Instagram to poke fun at Benn, writing: "Nice relaxing time as Conor waste time showing up to a face off. Back to the sauna you go, sausage getting cooked every way."
Fans were quick to react, with one posting: "Could this be a mind-game from Ryan Garcia?" while another replied: "Def a mind game. Ryan wants Benn to come out emotional and aggressive .. he's gonna get wild and get put to sleep .. he don't realize he in there with a real sniper .. this ain't bout to be no brawl." A third remarked: "W Ryan. Those face offs are so corny. Just wait until the presser."
Another fan commented: "Nigel stepping in is the most honest moment of fight week. The champion couldn't even stand in front of the challenger, so the dad had to fill the space. That's not games. That's a guy already looking for an exit before the first bell. If Garcia needs the father to do the staredown, wait until Saturday when nobody can skip it."
Weight cut speculation
Some have speculated that Garcia may be struggling to cut weight, which could explain his absence on Tuesday. A video emerged of the American looking drained during an interview just days before he has to step on the scales.
"Damn he looks so drawn out compared to going into the @Realdevinhaney fight…that's crazy," said one fan. Another wrote: "Bro looks almost worse than Conor lmao both these dudes should have just made the fight at 154." A third replied: "Ryan is currently in a Sauna trying to make weight."
Benn admitted last month that this fight will be his last at welterweight before moving back up. Speaking to the Ring, he said: "It's hard, it is brutal, but we are getting it done. I'm not going to be complaining and moaning. I know what I signed up for. You are not going to see me posting posts for sympathy in sweat suits or me crying.
"I'm getting paid handsomely. I'm fighting for a world title and headlining a mega fight in Las Vegas. What is there to moan about Listen, we know what we sign up for. Don't sign the contract and want sympathy. Yes, it's going to be hard; yes, it is taking a piece out of my soul and my spirit to get down in weight; yes, it is excruciating, but it's part of the job. It's hard; your body is screaming."
Benn will get another chance to go head-to-head with Garcia at their scheduled press conference on Thursday evening, before facing off one final time at the official weigh-ins on Friday.
