Ryan Garcia will make the first defense of his WBC welterweight title against Conor Benn on September 12 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
The fight will be broadcast globally on Paramount+ and on DAZN in the United Kingdom. Golden Boy Promotions and Zuffa Boxing will co-promote the event.
Garcia won the WBC title by defeating Mario Barrios via wide unanimous decision in February. The victory gave the 27-year-old his first full world championship.
Watch Garcia vs. Barrios highlights: Watch
Benn enters as the WBC’s No. 1 contender and will challenge for a world title for the first time. He most recently defeated Regis Prograis by unanimous decision in April.
In the co-main event, Jai Opetaia will return against WBC cruiserweight champion Noel Mikaelian for the Ring and Zuffa titles.
Mikaelian intends to defend his WBC title, although the sanctioning body was not mentioned in the official fight announcement. The WBC had previously ordered him to face David Benavidez next, creating uncertainty over whether it will approve the Opetaia bout as a championship defence.
“I intend to defend my world championship,” Mikaelian said. “This is the fight I’ve wanted since becoming a two-time world champion, and I’m ready to deliver.”
Watch Opetaia vs. Nyika highlights: Watch
Opetaia will defend his Ring Magazine and Zuffa cruiserweight titles. The unbeaten Australian enters after stopping Brandon Glanton in March, a fight that resulted in the IBF stripping him because it did not sanction the Zuffa title contest.
“This is a huge card, and I look forward to showing the world once again why I’m the best cruiserweight on the planet,” Opetaia said.
Also in the card, former world champion Mark Magsayo will face unbeaten Andres Cortes in a 10-round bout.
Magsayo (29-2, 19 KOs) has won five consecutive fights since moving up in weight and most recently stopped Feargal McCrory in five rounds in April. Cortes (25-0, 13 KOs) enters after defeating Eridson Garcia by unanimous decision and will fight in front of his hometown crowd in Las Vegas.
Watch Magsayo vs. McCrory highlights: Watch
“Andres Cortes challenged me and I answered,” Magsayo said. “He won’t have his ‘0’ after I’m done with him.”
