Benn reports 32lb weight gain after making limit for Garcia title fight

Conor Benn said he gained 32lb in the 12 hours after making weight for his WBC welterweight title fight against Ryan Garcia, according to BBC Sport. Both boxers came in below the division's limit at Friday's official weigh-in at the UFC Apex, with Benn subsequently reporting the sharp increase on social media.

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The 29-year-old Briton weighed 10st 6lb at the closed-door weigh-in, half a pound more than defending champion Garcia. Benn later said he had reached 12st 10lb. That second figure was his own reported weight, rather than a result from the official weigh-in. BBC Sport reported that no rehydration clause was in place for the contest, scheduled for Saturday.

Making the 10st 7lb welterweight limit represented a return to a weight Benn had not reached for a fight in more than four years. His two bouts against Chris Eubank Jr took place at middleweight: Benn weighed 11st 2lb for their first meeting and 11st 5lb for the rematch. He was 10st 10lb when he defeated Regis Prograis in April. Before this week's weigh-in, he had said he might reach 12st 7lb by the time he entered the ring.

BBC Sport's Kal Sajad reported that Benn had appeared increasingly drawn during the week, but smiled when his official weight was announced. Garcia arrived at the scales about 10 minutes after Benn and also made the limit. The American had previously missed the light-welterweight limit by more than three pounds before his 2024 bout with Devin Haney; there was no repeat of that problem on Friday.

The pair later appeared at a ceremonial event outside T-Mobile Arena, where hundreds of fans gathered in temperatures of around 40C. Sajad reported that Benn's face and shoulders looked fuller by that stage. The fighters faced off without a repeat of the scuffles seen during parts of the build-up, before being separated.

Garcia, 28, is making his first defence after taking the WBC belt from Mario Barrios on points in February. His professional record includes 25 victories, two defeats and one no-contest, with 20 wins by knockout. Benn enters his first world-title contest with 25 wins, including 14 knockouts, and one defeat. He has said he intends to vacate the championship and move back up in weight if he wins.