Arabic version: هزيمة غارسيا تثير تساؤلات حول طريق بن إلى لقب العالم

According to BBC News, Ryan Garcia stopped Conor Benn in two rounds at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, ending the British welterweight’s attempt to win a first world title. Benn, 29, was stopped for the first time in his 27th professional fight and was taken to hospital as a precautionary measure.

Garcia said Benn’s early pressure was predictable. “It went kind of exactly how I imagined it. He was going to try and put pressure on me straight away,” Garcia said. “He was banking on the idea I may just start folding early on and maybe get tired. You can’t jump in like that. It’s not the move.”

The defeat has prompted renewed scrutiny of Benn’s preparation and route to a title opportunity. He had not fought at the 10st 7lb welterweight limit for more than four years, while his two defining contests came at middleweight against Chris Eubank Jr. A points victory over 37-year-old Regis Prograis in April was his most recent preparation before facing Garcia, one of the leading welterweights.

Benn entered the bout as the WBC’s number-one contender and BoxRec’s highest-ranked British welterweight. Garcia is now targeting unification fights with fellow American champions Devin Haney and Teofimo Lopez. Benn has said he intended to move up in weight regardless of the result, but Garcia’s speed and timing raised concerns over the risks of meeting naturally bigger opponents.

Zuffa Boxing chief Dana White said Benn should return home and spend time with his family before deciding his next move. Asked whether Benn had justified the reported £11m paid for his initial deal, White said: “Every penny of it.” A possible trilogy with Eubank remains among the major fights available to Benn.