Conor Benn Shrugs Off Drug-Test Talk Before Ryan Garcia Title Fight

Ryan Garcia defends his WBC welterweight title against Conor Benn at Las Vegas' T-Mobile Arena on Saturday, and the pre-fight noise is dominated by one subject: drug testing. Both men carry PED histories, but Benn (25-1, 14 KO) told The Ring he hasn't given the testing protocols a second of thought, insisting his only focus is walking out with the win.

The backstory is impossible to ignore. Garcia (25-2, 20 KO) tested positive for ostarine after beating Devin Haney, a result flipped to a no contest and followed by a 12-month ban. Benn's own saga began in 2022, when his scheduled bout with Chris Eubank Jr collapsed on fight week over two failed clomifene tests. He maintained his innocence throughout the drawn-out process, saw his suspension eventually lifted, and finally got the Eubank fights in 2025 — losing the first before evening the score in the rematch.

Benn's message is that none of that matters now. He said both fighters are being diligently tested, which is the part that counts, and that Garcia's mental state or testing situation makes no difference to how he prepares. His job stays the same: train hard, focus on victory.

Form and Momentum

Garcia arrives off a February decision over Mario Barrios, a tidy return that reestablished him at 147. Benn, meanwhile, banked a unanimous decision win over Regis Prograis in April — though that came at a 150lb catchweight, not at the championship limit. It's a subtle but important distinction heading into a genuine welterweight title fight.

The Weight Problem

That's where things get interesting. Benn is fighting at welterweight for the first time since 2022, and he hasn't sugarcoated the toll, calling the cut brutal. He's already committed to moving up in weight immediately after Saturday, regardless of outcome.

The knock-on effect is significant. If Benn wins, he vacates the belt on the way out the door — meaning the WBC welterweight title changes hands and then empties within days. For a division built around Garcia's star power and Haney's WBO strap, a vacant belt reshuffles the picture fast. Benn just has to get through a champion who hits like his 20 knockouts suggest first.