Ryan instead focused squarely on his British rival.
“I’m whooping Conor Benn like he stole something. Don’t let the headlines fool you,” Garcia said on X.
Benn wasted little time responding, turning Ryan’s own choice of words into a warning of his own.
“I’m about to steal your title, and there is nothing you can do about it,” said Benn.
The two have been linked to a potential clash later this year, with Benn emerging as a serious option for Ryan’s next fight. Negotiations, however, have become increasingly complicated after Golden Boy alleged that Zuffa Boxing had interfered with Ryan’s contractual relationship with the promotional company.
Oscar De La Hoya has publicly maintained that Golden Boy has the final say regarding Ryan’s next move, while also expressing a willingness to work alongside Dana White and Zuffa if an agreement can be reached.
For the fighters themselves, the appetite for the contest appears unchanged.
Ryan has repeatedly dismissed suggestions that Benn presents a major threat, while Benn has embraced the opportunity to challenge one of boxing’s biggest names. Their latest back-and-forth offered another glimpse into the confidence both men carry into a fight that continues to generate significant interest on both sides of the Atlantic.
The legal and promotional hurdles may still need to be cleared before any official announcement can be made, but Ryan and Benn have made one thing clear: neither intends to give an inch in the battle for public opinion before the opening bell ever rings.
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