De La Hoya Calls British Boxing 'Second Class' After Garcia Stops Benn
The short version
- Oscar De La Hoya called UK boxing 'second class' to the U.S. version on The Ariel Helwani Show in early October.
- Ryan Garcia stopped Conor Benn at 1:25 of round two on September 12 at T-Mobile Arena, moving to 26-2 and retaining his WBC welterweight title.
- Benn suffered his first stoppage defeat in 27 fights in his first world-title challenge; trainer Tony Sims ruled out another welterweight campaign.
- Garcia called for a unification fight with Teofimo Lopez after the win.
- Garcia said he was disappointed De La Hoya skipped his ring walk despite a reportedly available seat.
Oscar De La Hoya says UK fighters fall short of championship level once they face top Americans, weeks after Ryan Garcia's stoppage of Conor Benn in Las Vegas.
Oscar De La Hoya has set off a new argument in boxing after describing the British side of the sport as a step below the American product. The Golden Boy Promotions founder made his remarks on The Ariel Helwani Show in early October, roughly three weeks after Ryan Garcia stopped Conor Benn inside two rounds in Las Vegas.
De La Hoya acknowledged how big boxing is in the United Kingdom but said its fighters do not develop into championship-level operators. "I love the fact that boxing is huge in the UK… but the fighters are not really developing to that championship level," he said. "Once you come to the U.S. and fight the real talent, then you see the reality of UK boxing. It's subpar, it's second class to U.S. boxing."
The timing gave his words extra sting. On September 12 at T-Mobile Arena, Garcia put Benn on the canvas with a right hand early in the second round, and referee Thomas Taylor halted the bout at 1:25 of that round. Garcia moved to 26-2, remained WBC welterweight champion and used the occasion to press for a unification clash with Teofimo Lopez.
The event filled the venue with close to 19,000 fans, and the gate was reported at more than $8 million. Garcia leaned on his speed and left hook from the outset and made Benn pay whenever the Briton pressed forward.
Benn had arrived undefeated through 26 professional bouts and was boxing for a world title for the first time. The defeat was the first time he had been stopped in 27 fights. It also came in his first appearance at the 147-pound welterweight limit in more than four years, after earlier spells at light-middleweight and middleweight.
Benn was examined at a hospital after the finish and has since indicated he will rebuild above welterweight. His trainer, Tony Sims, said a return to the division is off the table because the weight had proven too demanding, whatever the financial incentive.
De La Hoya's critique fed a long-running argument about how boxers are groomed before reaching the world stage, citing how fighters are brought along, the sparring they receive and the strength of their opponents on the way up. Reaction online split along familiar lines: some fans pointed to Britain's record of turning out world champions across the weight classes, while others noted Benn had met sturdier opposition than usual before running into Garcia.
There was friction on Garcia's side of the equation as well. Garcia voiced disappointment that De La Hoya was absent from ringside and did not join his ring walk, even though a seat had reportedly been held for him.
One result will not settle the argument on its own. Britain continues to produce world champions, and the United States remains the destination for many of the sport's biggest international matchups.
