RYAN GARCIA STOPS CONOR BENN TO RETAIN WBC TITLE

Ryan Garcia stopped Conor Benn in the second round on Saturday to retain his WBC welterweight title, according to reports of the fight. Garcia controlled the opening round from the outside before landing a right hand that dropped Benn in the second, prompting the referee to step in and end the contest inside two rounds. The stoppage marked the first defeat by knockout or technical knockout of Benn's career. Benn had built the bout up as his first world title challenge. Garcia's victory extended his unbeaten run to two fights, following a win over Mario Barrios in February.

Former two-division world champion Paulie Malignaggi described Benn as "terrible" by the standards of world-class boxing, telling Pro Box TV that the challenger "didn't belong in the ring" with Garcia. Malignaggi said Benn would have had a better chance of winning a world title by challenging Barrios for the WBC belt rather than facing Chris Eubank Jr, arguing that Barrios "sucked as a world champion" and did not throw enough punches. He said Benn's hunger and determination might have allowed him to "out-hustle" Barrios, calling it what would have been Benn's best chance of becoming a world champion. Malignaggi's remarks followed criticism from other fighters and observers who said Benn had been overmatched against Garcia.

Benn is set to move up to either middleweight or super-middleweight following the defeat, with a possible trilogy fight against Eubank Jr, whom he has already faced twice, mentioned as a future prospect. Garcia is being linked with bigger fights after the win, with Gervonta Davis, Devin Haney and Terence Crawford all raised as potential opponents during a recent interview with Ariel Helwani. Garcia said Davis was "showing fear" by avoiding a fight with him at welterweight, telling Helwani: "He don't want me at 147... He doesn't want to." No date has been confirmed for Garcia's next fight or for Benn's return at a higher weight.