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Conor Benn’s team believes sustained aggression can break Ryan Garcia when they meet on September 12 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Manager Keith Connolly expects Benn to concede early rounds before wearing down Garcia in the first defense of his WBC welterweight title. He compared the plan to Filip Hrgovic’s victory over Moses Itauma.
“It’s going to be exactly the same. My guy’s going to be in tremendous shape. Ryan Garcia is a great fighter, but my guy’s going to bully him. He’s going to bully him all over the ring. He might lose some rounds like Filip did, but he’s going to wear him out and knock him out,” said Connolly to Pro Boxing Fans.
That comparison gives Benn a simple blueprint, but following it brings considerable danger. Hrgovic covered up against Itauma, survived the early assault, and waited for an inexperienced heavyweight to exhaust himself. Garcia has far more professional experience and does not need to throw every punch with maximum force.
Taking the aggressive role brings its own danger. Benn frequently lunges with his weight loaded over his front foot, leaving his chin exposed as he closes distance. Garcia’s short counter left hook is designed to punish opponents who charge along a straight line. One mistimed entry may stop Benn before he establishes the physical fight his team wants.
Trouble develops once Garcia is trapped against the ropes. He sometimes stands upright, turns away from punches, or relies on the shoulder roll without protecting himself from looping shots. Benn can exploit those habits if he cuts off the ring at an angle and reaches the inside without being clipped.
The proposed knockout also requires Benn to recover power that has disappeared from his recent results. He has gone five consecutive fights without a stoppage since finishing Chris van Heerden in April 2022. Peter Dobson, Chris Eubank Jr., and Regis Prograis all took his best punches without being stopped, although Eubank hit the canvas twice in their rematch.
Maintaining that pace becomes harder after Benn’s drop back to 147 pounds. He has described the cut as brutal after competing at middleweight and a 150-pound catchweight. Any loss of strength, punch resistance, or late-round stamina directly challenges the belief that Benn will be the fresher fighter.
Mistakes can be forced, but Benn must survive Garcia’s fastest weapon long enough to wear him down.
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Last Updated on 2026/09/01 at 6:26 PM
“I think that’s also a big marketing point that you’re mentioning there, that nobody wants to fight him. I see a lot of fighters challenging him and other fighters. I think that’s just marketing to say, ‘Nobody wants to fight this guy.’ This is prizefighting, and everybody wants to fight anyone for the biggest prize,” Mikaelian said to Fight Hub TV.
That choice supports his case. The WBC ordered him to defend against David Benavidez in May, yet he accepted an immediate fight with Opetaia rather than wait for that event to be finalized. His title status remains uncertain, but taking this bout is hardly the behavior of someone intimidated by Opetaia’s reputation.
Calling a boxer “avoided” is one of the sport’s oldest promotional devices. It elevates the favored fighter without requiring victories over every available contender. Television platforms, purses, and promotional control often prevent major fights long before fear becomes relevant.
Facing Opetaia does not make the assignment safe. The 35-year-old identified the Australian’s southpaw stance as his chief concern, along with his speed, footwork, and powerful left hand.
Their lead-foot battle will shape the exchanges. Mikaelian must place his left foot outside Opetaia’s right to move away from the straight left and create a lane for his own right hand. Losing that position would leave him following Opetaia and absorbing combinations during his rapid entries.
Crowding Opetaia, tying him up, and forcing him to restart can reduce that speed. The approach may produce an awkward fight, but allowing him to operate freely at midrange would validate the warnings surrounding this matchup.
The champion considers himself Opetaia’s equal and describes them as the two best cruiserweights. He is treating his opponent as a talented southpaw whose aura has grown larger than his record. September 12 will reveal how much of that aura came from marketing and how much was earned in the ring.
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