When a fighter is genuinely locked in on an opponent, they usually name-drop them at every opportunity to build the hype. Garcia simply shouting for “anyone” to “run the scrap” in his post on X yesterday suggests he might be casting a wide net rather than focusing on the one guy currently hounding him.
There might be a reason why Ryan might be cooling on the idea of Benn right now. The biggest hurdle is the drama between Golden Boy and Zuffa Boxing.
Since Benn signed that multi-fight deal with Dana White, Oscar De La Hoya hasn’t been shy about his skepticism. He recently questioned how Benn expects to make big fights while tied to Zuffa. Ryan might realize that no matter how much he posts, the corporate standoff makes it a logistical nightmare.
While Ryan is calling for “anyone,” De La Hoya has been very public about wanting the Devin Haney rematch next. A return to that rivalry, especially with a WBC belt on the line, is a massive money-maker that doesn’t involve the headache of working with a rival MMA-adjacent promotion.
Benn is the WBC #1 mandatory, so he’s not an easy out. Even though Benn’s recent performance against Regis Prograis had critics calling him “food,” he’s still a dangerous, high-pressure fighter. If Ryan isn’t 100% sold on the business side of the Zuffa deal, he might see more “reward” in a unification bout or a Haney sequel than in a mandatory defense against Benn.
By not mentioning Benn specifically, Ryan keeps his options open and avoids being cornered into a fight that his own promoter seems hesitant to greenlight.
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