Things almost turned ugly when Conor Benn and Ryan Garcia came face to face in London on Sunday night.
Garcia is currently suspended from boxing until April 2025 after failing a drug test following his ill-fated bout with Devin Haney last year.
iFL TV Garcia and Benn locked horns in London on Sunday[/caption]
But that hasn’t stopped him from searching for his next fight as he gears up to return to the ring.
The expectation is that he will rematch Haney this year, with Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh recently declaring that the sequel features on his boxing wishlist.
However, Benn and Garcia clearly have a score to settle as well judging from their heated interaction at the Ring Magazine awards yesterday.
Garica was being interviewed by iFL TV on the red carpet when he locked eyes with Benn across the room.
Asked if he would consider a fight with ‘The Destroyer’, Garcia replied: “Yes, of course I would fight him.”
He then approached Benn and put his arm around his rival.
“How does that go?” said Benn. “That left hook won’t work on me.”
“That’s what they all say,” replied Garica. “Somehow I find the target every time.”
The intensity then changed in the room.
“Don’t be talking s*** in my city,” said Benn.
iFL TVSecurity had to intervene after Benn shoved Garcia[/caption]
“Your city?” responded Garcia. “You don’t think I’m going to hit you? I’ve fought many fighters like you.”
Benn then shoved Garcia as security stepped in and broke up the pair before things got out of hand.
It wasn’t the first time Benn and Garcia had traded verbal jabs.
The boxers had previously gone back and forth online after Garcia’s last outing against Haney.
It started with a congratulatory message from Benn and then escalated quickly.
Benn tweeted: “Great performance from Garcia I called it. Credit to Devin Haney for getting up off the floor 3 times. I will fight any of these guys.”
Turki Alalshikh’s 2025 boxing wishlist
Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn
Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua
Canelo Alvarez vs Terence Crawford
Devin Haney vs Ryan Garcia
Oleksandr Usyk vs Daniel Dubois
Garcia responded by suggesting he and Benn box at the O2 Arena before aiming a very specific threat at his potential opponent.
He replied: “Let’s run it in London at the 02. I will fracture your SPLEEN and then eat it. Shoutout London.”
Benn then fired back: “Don’t be another loudmouth like [Gervonta Davis] if you are really about it let’s do it next and I will smash your teeth down your neck you w***er.”
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