Ryan instead focused squarely on his British rival.
“I’m crying for Conor Benn like he stole something. Don’t let the headlines fool you,” Garcia said. X.
Benn wasted little time in responding, turning Ryan’s own choice of words into a warning of his own.
“I’m about to steal your title, and there’s nothing you can do about it,” said Benn.
The pair have been linked to a potential clash later this year, with Benn emerging as a serious option for Ryan’s next fight. However, negotiations became increasingly complicated after Golden Boy claimed that Zuffa Boxing interfered with Ryan’s contractual relationship with the promotional company.
Oscar De La Hoya has publicly maintained that Golden Boy has the final say on Ryan’s next move, while also expressing his willingness to work with Dana White and Zuffa if a deal can be reached.
For the fighters themselves, the appetite for the competition seems unchanged.
Ryan has repeatedly dismissed suggestions that Benn poses a major threat, while Benn has jumped at the opportunity to challenge one of boxing’s biggest names. Their latest back-and-forth provided 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 of them intends to give an inch in the battle for public opinion before the opening bell ever rings.
