RYAN GARCIA is ready to settle his feud with Conor Benn in the ring.
Benn is coming off a devastating defeat to Chris Eubank Jr in their second generation grudge match at middleweight.
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But a few months before that, he clashed with Garcia during a glitzy red carpet Ring Magazine event in London.
Garcia has not forgotten or forgiven the run-in – and fancies a crack at Benn himself if a rematch with Eubank does not materialise.
He told SunSport: “I wouldn’t mind fighting Conor Benn, that would be a lovely fight for me. Obviously he had a war with Chris Eubank.
“I don’t know if they’re gonna do a rematch but if that makes sense to my team and everybody else, let’s run it. We can do it.”
Eubank, 35, beat Benn, 28, three decades on from their dads’ famous two-fight series.
And both Eubank Sr – who won the 1990 thriller before drawing three years later – and Benn’s father Nigel were in attendance at Tottenham.
That is despite Eubank Sr threatening to boycott the bout amid fears over his son sweating down to 160lb and Benn jumping up from welterweight.
The 67,000 fans in Spurs’ £1billion stadium erupted when Eubank Sr arrived by his boy’s side – helping inspire the heroic victory.
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And Garcia, whose dad Henry helps corner him, said: “It’s awesome, it really shows that connection between father and son, especially as a boxing duo.
“It really has a special energy towards it, especially in boxing. Nowhere else is that like that because you’re watching your son get in the ring and fighting, it’s crazy.
“So it was heartwarming to see both of their dads in their corners and making sure that they’re supporting their sons.
“I think that there’s no better feeling in life having your family there with you as you enter that ring.
“So it was definitely a beautiful moment to see both of the fathers in their corner.”
Benn was first due to fight Eubank in 2022 but he was pulled out with just days to go after failing two drugs test.
He tested positive for clomiphene – a banned substance known to boost testosterone.
But Benn refused to accept a ban and fought his innocence while taking his career Stateside for two wins at the super-welterweight limit.
And eventually, UK Anti-Doping dropped the case against him – allowing him to return to fight in Britain.
Garcia, 26, initially beat Devin Haney, also 26, in April 2024 dropping his rival three times inside Brooklyn’s Barclays Center.
I know I didn’t cheat. I’ll take the ban for a year and that keeps it moving fast. Everybody knows that I didn’t take it.
Ryan Garcia on his failed drug test
But the win was revoked after Garcia tested positive for ostarine – banned for helping aid muscle growth.
Garcia protested his innocence – like Benn – but opted to accept a one-year ban – unlike his adversary from London.
And Garcia explained: “Well, I mean, what did he get out of that? People still think he cheated, so at the end of the day, I know I didn’t cheat.
“I’ll take the ban for a year and that keeps it moving fast. Everybody knows that I didn’t take it.
“I know my team, we know we didn’t take anything, so honestly it doesn’t really matter to me at the end of the day.
“People are gonna believe whatever they want to believe, they’re gonna believe I’m innocent, the large majority believes that, so who cares?”
Benn never released the evidence or reason his case against him was dropped – opting to keep it confidential.
Garcia meanwhile never explained why the ostarine was found in his system in tests taken on the day of and 24 hours before the bout.
‘I feel good both, mentally and physically’
He did however pass VADA tests throughout the lead up to the fight.
And Garcia said: “What we did find out is that it was at the lowest amount you could possibly find, trace amount.
“So again, it’s proven that there was such low dosage in my system that has no effect on my body, so that’s just the truth. It is what it is.”
Garcia – whose team blamed contaminated supplements for his failed test – suffered a mental health breakdown after his fight with Haney.
He was even arrested last June and charged with one misdemeanour count of vandalism after causing £11,000 worth of damage in an LA hotel room.
But thankfully, Garcia turned it around and has got back on track both mentally and physically.
The boxer now returns against former sparring partner Rolando Romero, 29, on Friday night in a historic event staged outside in Times Square.
Garcia said: “I’m feeling good. I mean, I’m just ready to go.
“I may have been acting crazy last time around but I was still feeling good pretty physically.
“But for me this time around I feel good both, mentally and physically. I’ve done this before.
“I’ve fought many fights in my life and I’m ready, I’m in shape, ready to go 12 rounds and ready to do my job.”
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