“Before I retired, there wasn’t too many people jumping and calling for Terence Crawford. Now that I’m retired, everybody calling out your boy,” Crawford said to Nightcap. “It’s the payday and opportunity. They look at it and say, ‘Okay, we’re going to get the highest check of our career. This dude is about to be 39. He probably slowed down a step or two, and maybe this is the right time.’”

His reading of the belated Crawford chase is fair. Jaron “Boots” Ennis wants him, Ryan Garcia has taken shots at his record, and Dana White has talked about finding the right fight to pull him back. He has become far more popular as a target since announcing he is finished.

The risk has changed as well. Calling out an active Crawford meant eventually having to fight him. Challenging him now gives a boxer publicity without requiring him to follow through unless an enormous financial package materializes.

Age is clearly part of the attraction. A younger opponent can collect a career-high purse while hoping that time has removed enough of the speed, reflexes, and stamina that made Crawford so difficult. If the challenger loses, he was beaten by an all-time great. If he wins, Crawford’s name becomes the foundation of his career.

An Ennis fight would therefore need to offer Crawford much more than another name on his record. He already walked away after winning titles in five divisions and becoming undisputed in three. Beating Ennis would generate money, but the reaction would quickly turn into claims that Crawford was always supposed to win.

He also insisted that he is enjoying retirement and does not miss competing inside the ring.

“I’ve been enjoying the hell out of it. I don’t have to worry about anything. All I have to do is enjoy life, travel the world, and be a fan. In the ring, no, not really. I did everything. When I walked away, I was a five-division champion and three-division undisputed. You can’t do it any better than how I did it.”

The challenges may continue because Crawford remains the biggest available payday from 147 through 160. That does not mean any of those fighters wanted the same test before his departure made it safer to ask.

Ryan Garcia showed up to Friday’s face-off with a pair of eggs tucked into his pockets, seemingly planning to pelt Conor Benn. The prank fell apart before Garcia even stepped on stage because Dana White’s security guards caught on immediately.

“Before the face-off, Ryan Garcia had two eggs in his pocket. My security team saw it and he came up to me before. He said, ‘He’s got two eggs in his pocket. What do you want me to do?’ I said, ‘Have him give you the eggs. Get the eggs out of his pocket,’” White told Ring Magazine. “We don’t need him hitting Conor Benn with an egg.”

White made the right call. Tossing an egg sounds silly on paper, but Benn was never going to shrug off that kind of public disrespect under the glare of the cameras. A single retaliatory swing could have sparked an injury, triggered a suspension, or completely wiped out the headliner.

Garcia clearly plotted this out ahead of time. He sourced the eggs, slipped them past the doors, and bided his time until the face-off. The payoff amounted to nothing more than a brief viral clip online. The downside was putting a massive WBC welterweight title bout in jeopardy after promoters poured millions into the event.

Security stepped in just in time to protect Garcia from his own worst impulses. When Saturday night arrives, he can focus on landing clean punches against Benn instead of throwing breakfast food. Taking those eggs away prevented an instant, close-quarters brawl that almost certainly would have left one of them cut, bruised, and unfit to fight on Saturday. Ryan was playing with fire for a five-second clip.

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Last Updated on 2026/09/11 at 7:31 PM

Ryan Garcia and Conor Benn finally collide in Las Vegas this weekend in a fight that has generated plenty of intrigue because of the contrasting routes both men have taken to get here.

Garcia makes the first defence of his WBC welterweight title after defeating Mario Barrios earlier this yearwhile Benn drops back to 147lbs for the first time since 2022 following spells at higher weights.

The Brit has admitted the weight cut has been ‘brutal’adding another major variable to a fight in which Garcia’s speed and power will be tested against Benn’s pressure and aggression.

With both men carrying significant name value and plenty at stake, the biggest names in boxing have weighed in on what might happen – will it be a first successful defence for the more experienced Garcia, or can the Brit cause an almighty upset on away soil?

Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez

Speaking on the Ariel Helwani ShowMexican icon Canelo backed his former stablemate Garcia, though complimented both men.

“I like Ryan, he is very talented. When he is focussed, he can beat everybody … I know Conor too and I like Conor too, but I think that Ryan is a special fighter.”

Terence Crawford

Recently retired pound-for-pound superstar Crawford – who has been embroiled in a back-and-forth with Garcia – told DAZN that the American’s loss to Rolando Romero will provide a good blueprint for Benn to win.

“I think Conor Benn. I think Rolly showed us all that if you don’t get hit with the left hook and you land your big shots, then you can neutralise Ryan. I think Conor Benn going in with a great game plan can be victorious.”

Shakur Stevenson

A potential rival for both men in the future, four-weight world champion backed Garcia in an interview with FightHypebut does not rule out the Brit ‘shocking the world’.

“I just don’t think that he has got the experience to beat Ryan, I think that is what is going to come out. But, I seen something with Fernando Vargas where he said, ‘which one of them guys quit?’, and I said ‘damn’.

“I never really thought about that but that is like a fighters mentality and Ryan did kind of quit in one of his fights and Conor Benn has never quit. It is an interesting thing and maybe Conor Benn may shock the world and beat Ryan Garcia but me, knowing Ryan, Ryan should beat him.”

Eddie Hearn

After a bitter promotional split, Eddie Hearn told Boxing News that he is backing Garcia to beat his former charge due to the drastic weight cut.

“If he gets his flush on the chin at 147lb against Ryan Garcia, the fight is over. So he’s got to rely on his ability but he likes to engage, he likes to jump in. Ryan is so reactive, he’s a great counter puncher but Ryan can also be hurt, but I don’t think Conor is going to punch hard enough at 147lbs.

Mike Tyson

The sport’s youngest ever heavyweight champion, Mike Tyson, backs Garcia to beat an improving Benn.

“Ryan [wins]. We’ll see [if it ends by knockout]. Conor’s getting better.”

The fight takes place this Saturday at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Jai Opetaia and Noel Mikaelian meet in a cruiserweight clash as co-main event.