Ryan Garcia Wants Small Gloves for Drained Benn

Ryan Garcia believes Conor Benn will be more vulnerable to punches after forcing his body back down to 147 pounds. Garcia wants to preserve that vulnerability by keeping both fighters in 8-ounce gloves even if Benn misses the welterweight limit.

Both camps have accepted Garcia’s request, according to Chris Mannix, but the Nevada State Athletic Commission must approve it. Missing the limit would ordinarily move the fight into 10-ounce glove territory.

“Even if he makes the weight, your brain can’t rehydrate fast enough,” Garcia said during the final press conference. “Them punches are going to do some real damage. I heard his dad talking like he was going to knock me out. Bet he won’t. Your son ain’t going to knock me out.”

Conor countered by reminding Garcia that he has never missed weight, while Garcia came in 3.2 pounds heavy for his 2024 fight with Devin Haney.

Benn has the better history on the scale, but this is not a routine cut. He has not boxed at welterweight since 2022 and later built himself up for two fights with Chris Eubank Jr. at 160. His most recent contest against Regis Prograis was held at a 150-pound contract weight.

Four years away from 147 is a long time. Benn has also described this camp’s weight loss as brutal and admitted that the process reduced him to tears. He may reach the official number, but reaching it and recovering from the dehydration are two different issues.

That is the distinction Garcia is making. He is less interested in the number Benn records on Friday than the physical condition Benn brings into the ring on Saturday.

The request is calculated rather than sporting. Garcia believes a drained Benn will have reduced punch resistance, and he wants the smaller gloves available to test that theory. Benn would receive the same 8-ounce gloves and may regain considerably more weight overnight, but Ryan trusts his speed, accuracy, and left hook against the heavier man.

Benn can point to his perfect record of making contracted limits. Garcia can point to the four-year absence from welterweight and everything Benn has said about the cut. The scale will settle only half of their argument. Benn’s reaction to the first clean left hook will answer the rest.

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