Boxing
Dillian Whyte supports Anthony Joshua in his fight against Deontay Wilder and presses for the fight
When asked about the long-discussed fight, Whyte gave his straightforward assessment, clearly siding with Joshua based on his overall ability and current form.
“I think AJ will crush Wilder anyway,” Whyte told iFL TV.
The fight has been revisited several times over the past few years but has not been finalized, including previous periods of negotiations during which both fighters were being prepared to reach an agreement.
Despite these discussions, no agreement was reached and instead of meeting in the ring, both men chose different paths in their recent fights.
Whyte also indicated that Joshua may not enter the fight against Wilder immediately, suggesting that a shorter return could come first as he becomes more dynamic before facing a high-risk, top-level opponent.
“I think AJ will want to toasty up,” he added.
Both fighters have had periods of inactivity, and time between fights remains a factor when discussing potential matchups at the top of the division. We’re keeping a close eye on Wilder’s recent performances and Joshua’s schedule, especially since neither has a final opponent yet at this stage.
The fight has remained in the loop due to the way both fighters approach their fights. Joshua has relied on control, positioning and balanced efficiency in recent fights, while Wilder’s results have continued to rely on the power of single shots.
This difference keeps the fight discussed even without a final agreement, especially as both remain near the top of the heavyweight division. This animated makes the fight relevant even without a confirmed agreement.
The fight remains unconfirmed, but Whyte’s position is clear. He backs Joshua to win if that happens and still sees the fight as a viable next step, keeping the possibility of Joshua facing Wilder on the table while both look forward to their next fights.
Las Vegas hosts Garcia’s first WBC welterweight title defense, with US and UK viewers facing very different fight-night hours.
Fight Prediction
Ryan Garcia vs. Conor Benn
Ryan Garcia50%
Conor Benn50%
Voting open • Opening line: 50%–50%
Ryan Garcia and Conor Benn are expected to make their ring walks at approximately 11 p.m. ET on Saturday / 4 a.m. BST at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Garcia defends his WBC welterweight title on September 12, with Benn challenging for a world championship for the first time.
The main card starts at 8 p.m. ET / 1 a.m. BST on September 13. Preliminary action begins at 5 pm ET / 10 pm BST.
The projected Garcia-Benn ring-walk time can move depending on the length of the earlier fights and stoppages.
Where Is Garcia vs Benn Streaming?
Paramount+ streams Garcia-Benn live in the United States. UK and Ireland viewers can watch the event LIVE on DAZN PPV.
Garcia enters his first defense after outpointing Mario Barrios to capture the WBC belt in February. Benn secured his championship opportunity by beating Regis Prograis on points in April.
The challenger will have to cross dangerous ground to get his work done.
Benn wants to dig to the body and make Garcia exchange. Garcia has the counterpunching to punish a reckless approach, particularly with the left hook when Benn squares his feet coming forward.
Garcia can make Benn pay for forcing his way inside, while Benn needs to work without leaving himself planted in front of the champion after his combinations.
Jai Opetaia against Noel Mikaelian provides the cruiserweight co-feature. The card also includes Jose Ramirez against Alexis Rocha, Mark Magsayo against Andres Cortes and Sean Garcia against Abraham Morales.
For viewers primarily interested in the main event, 11 pm ET / 4 am BST is the current approximate target. Anyone wanting the complete card should be watching from 5 pm ET / 10 pm BST.
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Last Updated on 2026/09/12 at 8:31 AM
Conor Benn answered the biggest question surrounding his return to welterweight by weighing 146 pounds for Ryan Garcia, almost a full pound below the limit.
Benn left nothing to chance after months of questions over whether he could get back down to 147 pounds. But what happened after he stepped off the scales made the weight debate even more interesting.
DAZN reported Benn at 178.4 pounds after rehydrating, a staggering 32.4-pound difference from his official weight.
If accurate, the difference between Benn’s official and reported weights was more than 22 percent of his weigh-in body weight.
Benn Gains 32.4 Pounds
That’s where the real concern over Benn’s weight begins.
Coming in almost a full pound under the limit showed there was no appetite to take any chances by getting close to 147.
Questions had already been raised about what getting back down to welterweight would take.
Former opponent Regis Prograis previously said Benn “looks small” and hoped the weight was not “draining him already” after seeing his transformation ahead of the Garcia fight.
Those concerns were addressed when Benn stepped on the scales with room to spare. However, the DAZN figure showed the other side of making welterweight.
Zuffa Boxing received approval from the Nevada State Athletic Commission for an unusually early 9 a.m. PT official weigh-in, giving Benn and Garcia considerably more time to eat, drink, rehydrate and recover before fight night.
For Benn, DAZN’s reported second weight represented an extraordinary change from his official weigh-in figure.
Reaction was immediate. One commenter asked, “How is that possible to do after a couple of hours?” Another wanted someone to “explain how he gained 32 lbs in a few hours.”
Weight Cutting Dangers
Benn did nothing wrong. He made the contracted weight and did it comfortably.
The wider issue is what fighters continue to put their bodies through to make those limits.
The Association of Ringside Physicians has warned that rapid weight loss and dehydration can affect cardiovascular and neurological function, among other areas. The organization has also stated that proper rehydration can take hours or even days.
That warning puts Benn’s dramatic change into perspective. Fighters can make the required limit, begin replacing everything lost during the cut and enter the ring considerably heavier than they were on the official scales.
The early weigh-in gave Benn even more time to recover, but it does not change what his two reported weights say about the process required to compete at welterweight.
Benn did everything required of him and comfortably made the limit. The concern is how far fighters continue to push their bodies to get there in the first place.
About the Author
Phil Jay is the Editor-in-Chief of World Boxing News (WBN), a BWAA-acknowledged boxing news website founded in 2010. A veteran boxing reporter with 16 years of experience, he has interviewed world champions, broken international exclusives, and reported ringside from major events. His work is published worldwide through WBN and distributed on platforms including Apple News.
Read Phil Jay’s full bio and latest stories.
WBC welterweight champion Ryan Garcia (25-2, 20 KOs) defends his title against Conor Benn (25-1, 14 KOs) this Saturday, September 12, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The match will headline a Mexican Independence weekend normally reserved for Mexican superstar Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez.
For Conor, it’s his first fight at welterweight in more than four years. He last fought at welterweight against Chris Van Heerden in April of 2022. For Ryan, it’s his second welterweight bout after having defeated Mario Barrios in February of this year.
There was much back-and-forth about whether Benn would make the welterweight limit of 147 pounds, since he had fought Chris Eubank twice at 160 pounds and grown into the middleweight division. In his match in April against Regis Prograis, he trimmed down to 150 pounds, and based on his performance in that fight, many believed he would struggle to lose an additional three pounds for this one.
The official weigh-in took place this morning at the Meta Apex, and Conor Benn made weight, proving all the doubters wrong, weighing 146 pounds, while Ryan Garcia came in at 145.5 pounds.
Official Weigh-In Results:
12 Rounds — WBC Welterweight Championship Match: Ryan Garcia (145.5 lbs.) vs Conor Benn (146 lbs.)
12 Rounds — WBC/Zuffa/Ring Cruiserweight Championship Match: Jai Opetaia (199 lbs.) vs Noel Mikaelian (200 lbs.)
8 Rounds — Heavyweight: Da’Mazion Vanhouter (231.5 lbs.) vs Raphael Akpejiori (246 lbs.)
10 Rounds — Lightweight: Mark Magsayo (134.5 lbs.) vs Andres Cortes (135 lbs.)
6 Rounds — Lightweight: Oswaldo Molina (131.5 lbs.) vs Pablo Rubio (131 lbs.)
8 Rounds — Super Middleweight: Abel Gonzalez (167.5 lbs.) vs Raul Salomon (167 lbs.)
6 Rounds — Super Welterweight: Vlad Panin (151.5 lbs.) vs Dakota Linger (150.5 lbs.)
10 Rounds — Welterweight: Jose Ramirez (146.5 lbs.) vs Alexis Rocha (146.5 lbs.)
6 Rounds — Lightweight: Sean Garcia (134 lbs.) vs. Abraham Morales (134 lbs.)
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Last Updated on 2026/09/12 at 4:12 AM
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