CARL FROCH has warned that Conor Benn has goaded Ryan Garcia into taking boxing seriosuly again.
Garcia has had a series of personal problems during his superstar career, including battles with his mental health and drinking.
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And despite turning it around earlier in the year – it it still hard to know how seriously the American celebrity truly takes the sport.
Garcia – who defends his WBC title against Benn in Las Vegas on Saturday – largely trains from his home and livestreams his life weekly.
So despite beating Mario Barrios, 31, for the WBC welterweight title in February, there are still question marks of Garcia’s dedication and commitment.
But after Benn took aim at the champion for not being able to speak Spanish despite his Mexican heritage, Froch fears it has sparked new life into 28-year-old’s career.
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Froch, 49, said on SunSport’s No Glove Lost episode: “I think if he has took his eye off the ball a little bit, Conor Benn’s got him back in the game because Conor has been sticking it on him, giving him stick saying, ‘You’re not Mexican.
“And I think he’s thinking, ‘Right I’m going to f*** you up.’ Conor’s done the wrong thing if Ryan was taking this lightly because Conor switched him on.
“I think Ryan Garcia is going to turn up and he’s going to put a good show on.”
Benn, 29, is back down at 147lb for the first time in over FOUR YEARS.
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Garcia vs Benn – all the info
Ryan Garcia will make the first defence of his WBC welterweight title against British superstar Conor Benn THIS Saturday.
The blockbuster Las Vegas event is under the arm of Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing promotion.
Garcia, 28, captured his first world title in February by securing a dominant unanimous decision victory over Mario Barrios.
Benn, 29, is challenging for a world title for the first time in his professional career.
His sole professional defeat came against domestic rival Chris Eubank Jr in April 2025, a loss he quickly avenged with a dominant unanimous decision victory in their November 2025 rematch.
Benn enters the biggest bout of his life following a decisive points win over former world champion Regis Prograis in April, which marked his debut under Zuffa Boxing.
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He moved up to 160lb for two middleweight mega-fights with Chris Eubank Jr, 36, in 2025 losing the first bout but winning the November rematch.
He dropped down to a 150lb catchweight in April when he laboured past 37-year-old former super-lightweight champ Regis Prograis on points.
And pictures from his training camp showing Benn already looking gaunt weeks out from the Garcia fight has caused concern.
It leaves Froch fearing for the son of British boxing great Nigel.
He said: “The general consensus for this fight, and again, I’m not just saying this to say it, but everyone I speak to, and people who know boxing, people who don’t know boxing, they’re calling this a mismatch.
“They’re saying this is a mismatch. This is a fight that Conor cannot win.
“Now, I don’t believe that, because its a two-horse race, anything can happen. But that’s how wide it is.
“When you look at what Ryan Garcia’s done at 147, he’s world champ. Conor’s drained himself down now to a weight he’s not been at for years.
“It’s dangerous. And he looked like s*** against Prograis, he didn’t look good. He just didn’t.
“And it was a 10-rounder against a guy who didn’t want to be in there, and it still went 10 rounds.
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“So, taking all that into account, the smart money’s on Ryan Garcia. But Conor can go in there and rip the script up, and I hope he does.”