“The idea is to be prepared for anything. I understand this guy is not on my level and can’t keep up with my punches. So his game plan is going to be quite simple. He’s going to try and rough me up, try to be a little dirty, and get in there as fast as he can,” Garcia told The Pat McAfee Show. “So, just be trained for anything. We trained very hard, so anything he throws at us.”
Trying to contest the fight from long range would be foolish for Benn. Garcia owns the faster hands, greater height, and more dangerous counter left hook. Remaining at the end of Ryan’s punches would give Garcia time to set traps without forcing him to work at an uncomfortable pace.
Charging straight at Ryan presents its own danger. Benn must cut off the ring at an angle, trap him near the corners, and step around his lead foot instead of following him back toward the center ring. That approach runs into Garcia’s check hook.
Once Benn gets close, the body should become his primary target. Garcia has shown vulnerability downstairs, most notably against Gervonta Davis. Heavy hooks to the ribs would slow Ryan’s legs and make it harder for him to escape sustained pressure during the later rounds.
Ryan also relies on the shoulder roll when backed against the ropes, but he sometimes turns too far or leaves an opening for looping right hands around his guard. Benn’s wide, explosive punches are designed to exploit those openings. The referee’s tolerance for clinching, holding, and punching on the break may influence how often Benn gets to work there. Quick separations would return the action to Garcia’s preferred range.
Another test will be the pace. Ryan fights best in explosive bursts with time to recover between exchanges. Denying him those pauses requires Benn to work the body and force him to throw while moving backward.
By calling Benn “not on my level,” Garcia places the burden on himself to control the fight convincingly. He understands the strategy coming his way. The harder task will be preventing Benn from imposing it for twelve rounds.
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