When a fighter is really locked into an opponent, they usually let them at every opportunity to build the hype. Garcia yelling at “anyone” to “do the scrap” in his post on X just yesterday suggests that he may be casting a wide net rather than focusing on the one guy currently chasing him.
There might be a reason why Ryan might be cooling on the idea of Benn right now. The biggest obstacle is the drama between Golden Boy and Zuffa Boxing.
Ever since Benn signed that multi-fight deal with Dana White, Oscar De La Hoya hasn’t been shy about his skepticism. He recently questioned how Benn expected to make big fights while tied to Zuffa. Ryan might realize that no matter how much he posts, the corporate battle makes it a logistical nightmare.
While Ryan calls for “anybody,” De La Hoya has been very public about wanting the next Devin Haney rematch. A return to that rivalry, especially with a WBC belt on the line, is a massive moneymaker that doesn’t involve the headache of working with a rival MMA-adjacent promotion.
Benn is the WBC #1 mandatory, so he’s not an easy guy. Although Benn’s recent performance against Regis Prograis had critics calling him “food”, he is still a dangerous high pressure fighter. If Ryan isn’t 100% sold on the business side of the Zuffa deal, he might see more “reward” in a unification match or a Haney successor than in a mandatory defense against Benn.
By not specifically mentioning Benn, Ryan keeps his options open and avoids getting into a fight that his own promoter seems reluctant to greenlight.
