INJURY UPDATE: RYAN GARCIA DODGES SURGERY; CLEARED FOR MASSIVE JULY RING RETURN
After clinching the WBC title, Ryan Garcia's hand is confirmed as "not broken," clearing the path for a 144lb catchweight mega-fight.
Ryan Garcia dodged a broken hand after his world title win over Mario Barrios, even though his hand looked pretty rough right after the fight.
That night in February was huge for Garcia. He dropped Barrios, dominated the fight, and finally got his hands on a world championship belt.
But right after the final bell, Garcia couldn’t hide the pain. His hand was swollen, and a lot of people figured it was broken. When he pulled off his glove, it looked even worse – bad enough that you’d expect the worst.
Turns out, he got lucky. Boxing reporter Mike Coppinger says Garcia’s hand isn’t broken after all. His advisor, Guadalupe Valencia, told Ring Magazine it’s just a light sprain. That’s a relief, and it means Garcia can look at a July return to the ring.
So, no rematch with Barrios. Garcia is free to chase some of the bigger names in the division, and honestly, that’s what fans want to see.
First up, there’s Conor Benn, who’s the mandatory challenger for Garcia’s WBC belt. But Benn is already booked for an April fight against Regis Prograis at 150 pounds. Since Benn only has a one-fight deal with Zuffa Boxing, his next move isn’t clear, so a summer fight with Garcia is up in the air.
But Garcia seems to have someone else in mind anyway. After his win, he immediately called out Shakur Stevenson. Stevenson just picked up the WBO title at 140 pounds after a big win over Teofimo Lopez. Now, a fight between these two is actually on the table.
Stevenson isn’t shy about what he wants, though. He’s made it clear he wants VADA drug testing and a catchweight of 144 pounds for the fight. Here’s what he said: “Was VADA involved in this fight? I saw him with Rolly; he didn’t look like that. If he’s fighting me next, I’m all for the challenge, but VADA will be involved.
“We’ll meet in the middle at 144 pounds. Two big stars – we don’t need a belt for the fight.
“I think it’s a great fight to make. I’m in this for big fights. Ryan and I would have an even bigger fight, and it would be a tremendous fight.
"I want to fight him, and he wants to fight me, so it should be easy to get it done. We’ve just got to make sure he’s on VADA, and there’s no cheating involved.”
NO MORE EXCUSES: WHY DANIEL DUBOIS MUST PROVE HIS MENTAL TOUGHNESS AGAINST WARDLEY
Is Dubois ready for Wardley? Discover why Frank Warren is demanding control and the latest on Don Charles' return to the corner.
Daniel Dubois’ main problem against Oleksandr Usyk was control. That’s what he needs to fix if he wants any chance of beating Fabio Wardley.
Back in August 2024, Dubois faced Usyk for the undisputed heavyweight title at Wembley. He showed up just 90 minutes before his ringwalk, way after Usyk had already settled in. Sure, the fifth-round knockout stung, but honestly, the chaos before the fight said just as much. When a fighter’s environment falls apart, so does the fight. That night, Dubois’ camp looked anything but organised.
Frank Warren put it simply: “That can’t happen again.” He told Sky Sports he was “tearing my hair out” over the late arrival – pretty blunt for a promoter right before a big fight. When the people running the show admit something went wrong, you know it did. They needed to make changes.
This time, Dubois and his team are keeping things tight. Warren confirmed they’ll stay in a Manchester hotel for the Wardley fight, cutting down on distractions and locking in the logistics. Dubois has also gone back to Don Charles after a short stint with Tony Sims, choosing stability and someone he trusts over more guesswork. Right now, he needs things simple and solid.
Now he’s facing Wardley, who doesn’t waste time. Wardley’s undefeated, throws a ton of punches, and turns up the heat early. If Dubois hesitates, Wardley will catch it and punish it. There’s no hiding from uncertainty in this matchup. Dubois will have to show, right away, that he’s ready.
The fight’s set for May 9 in Manchester, with the WBO heavyweight title on the line. After Wembley, Dubois gets another shot at the top. He’s called the Usyk loss a lesson and promised not to repeat the same mistakes. But talk is cheap. We’ll see if he’s really changed if his team’s prepared, if he shows up ready, and if everything around him is locked down when the pressure hits.
Manchester will tell the story. If Dubois comes in calm and focused, people will notice. If the same old mess shows up, the problem won’t be with his boxing; it’ll be about control. And in heavyweight title fights, that’s usually what decides who walks away with the belt and who goes back to chasing.
THE ZUFFA ERA: DANA WHITE'S $15M CONOR BENN DEAL SHAKES THE BOXING WORLD'S FOUNDATION
Big money move: Discover why Conor Benn left Matchroom for a $15M Zuffa deal to fight Regis Prograis at Tottenham Stadium.
Conor Benn is set to face Regis Prograis as the main undercard for Tyson Fury’s fight against Arslanbek Makhmudov.
Ben just left Matchroom Boxing and Eddie Hearn behind, signing instead with Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing. The deal? A jaw-dropping $15 million for just one fight. Everyone figured this meant Benn would finally make his American debut, but, surprise, his first fight with Zuffa will actually be in the UK.
So, “The Destroyer” is stepping into the ring with former WBA super-lightweight champ Regis Prograis, all as part of the Fury vs. Makhmudov card at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on April 11. This fight’s basically the co-main event, right before Fury’s big heavyweight return.
Benn can’t wait. “April 11th can’t come soon enough,” he said. “Going back to Tottenham, where I made history against Eubank Jr, means everything to me. My last fight there showed the world exactly who I am. Biggest stages, biggest shows. I fear no one. I’m locked in. Ready to make another statement.”
White’s Zuffa Boxing is running the show, teaming up with Ring Magazine to promote the event.
Prograis is just as fired up. “Last time I fought in London, Conor Benn was on my undercard. Now here we are, full circle. But this time, I’m teaching him a lesson. He’s not facing some weight-drained super middleweight. I’m in shape, and I’m winning this one.”
Why are Benn and Prograis fighting at all? It’s caught plenty of people off guard, since Benn seemed to be aiming for a WBC 147 lbs title shot. He was supposed to be pushing for a fight with Ryan Garcia, who just became champion, or maybe even a huge showdown with Shakur Stevenson, one of boxing’s best right now.
Instead, Prograis got the nod. He’s moving up to 147 lbs. Last time he fought in the UK, he lost to Jack Catterall in 2024, but bounced back with a win over Jojo Diaz. Benn heads into this fight with a ton of momentum after knocking out Chris Eubank Jr in their grudge match last November. Plus, this new TKO/Saudi deal is paying him big.
As for Benn’s split from Eddie Hearn? It’s all about money. Hearn, who stood by Benn through the mess of his failed drug test, found out Benn was leaving via text. He saw it as a slap in the face, but Benn says the offer was just too good to turn down. He’s not ruling out working with Matchroom again someday, but for now, Dana White’s calling the shots as Benn steps back into the spotlight under Fury’s comeback.
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