Ryan Garcia impressively defends WBC welterweight title with 2nd-round TKO of Conor Benn

LAS VEGAS (AP) — After taking 10 years to win his first world championship, Ryan Garcia needed only 4:25 to finish off Conor Benn on Saturday night in the first defense of his WBC welterweight title.

“I kind of figured he would just come at me crazy,” Garcia said, explaining what he expected of his challenger. “Second round, I said I’m tired of him coming forward; I’m gonna stand my ground a little bit ... and then he got caught with a hellacious one."

Garcia’s sharp right hand to the jaw put Benn on the canvas early in the second round. Moments later, with the Englishman on the ropes, Garcia (26-2, 21 KOs) served a flurry of punches that prompted referee Thomas Taylor to step in and end the contest at the 1:25 mark and send the announced sold-out crowd of 18,855 into a frenzy.

”He’s exactly what I thought he was; he went in and tried to fight me. I think he needs to be a little bit more patient,” Garcia added. “I don’t think he has enough experience. I think he will be back. I have a new level of respect for him.”

Garcia closed -300 at BetMGM, meaning bettors would have had to lay $300 to win $100.

The bout was more than another high-profile main event, as it marked a career-defining crossroads for both fighters.

For Garcia, he solidified himself in the 147-pound weight class as a durable, legitimate titleholder rather than a gifted attraction whose career has often been defined by controversy, inconsistency and unrealized potential.

The convincing victory positioned Garcia for a lucrative welterweight fight against the division’s other leading names, including Teofimo Lopez, who was ringside, or another major showdown with Devin Haney, who was also in attendance.

For the 29-year-old Benn (25-2), it’s likely back to the middleweight division after failing in his first world-title opportunity and a chance to escape the considerable shadow of his father, former two-division champion Nigel Benn.

Benn was transported to a hospital after the fight for observation.

In the co-main event, Jai Opetaia (31-0, 24 KOs) patiently weathered several cagey rounds before stopping Noel Mikaelian in the ninth round of their scheduled 12-round lineal cruiserweight championship fight.

Opetaia stunned Mikaelian (28-4) with a multi-punch combination and two crushing hooks, then sent him backward into the ropes with a powerful right hand. Referee Harvey Dock administered a standing eight-count before determining Mikaelian could not continue, ending the competitive fight by TKO at 1:30.

Da’Mazion Vanhouter (13-0, 10 KOs) wasted no time in his scheduled 8-round heavyweight bout, delivering a crushing right hand at the 1:58 mark of the first round for a knockout of Raphael Akpejiori (19-4).

In the 10-round lightweight bout that opened the main card, Andres Cortes (26-0) retained his belt with a unanimous decision over Mark Magsayo (29-3), with all three judges scoring the fight 97-93.

AP boxing: https://apnews.com/boxing

Andres Cortes, right, punches Mark Magsayo in their lightweight fight Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Ian Maule)

Raphael Akpejiori, (L), fights Da'mazion Vanhouter in their heavyweight fight Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Ian Maule)

Jai Opetaia, left, punches Noel Mikaelian in their cruiserweight championship fight Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Ian Maule)

Ryan Garcia, left, punches Conor Benn in their welterweight championship fight Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Ian Maule)

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Arch Manning and No. 4 Texas stole a 24-23 victory from No. 1 Ohio State on Saturday night, rallying from a 20-point fourth-quarter deficit to win it on Hollywood Smothers’ 1-yard touchdown run with 25 seconds left.

The Longhorns' 20-point comeback in the fourth quarter is the largest fourth-quarter rally to win against an AP No. 1 team, according to Sportradar.

The Buckeyes had appeared in complete control after a dominant three quarters and led 23-3.

But Texas (2-0) rallied behind Manning, whose touchdown pass to Ryan Wingo early in the fourth started the comeback. Smothers scored on a 1-yard run with 7:14 to play before Ohio State (1-1) drove for what could have been a clinching field goal.

Connor Hawkins, who had earlier made three field goals, missed from 45 yards, setting up Texas’ winning drive.

“When that happened, I knew it was our time,” Manning said. “I’m really proud of the way we responded. We could have let that thing go. It’s a testament to our coaches and our culture.”

The gritty win could also give Texas a claim at No. 1.

The victory is arguably the biggest regular-season win in six seasons for coach Steve Sarkisian, and certainly for Manning, who had struggled to live up to Heisman Trophy expectations early in his career.

“I couldn’t be more proud of our team with the heart, the desire and the fight,” Sarkisian said.

Manning’s legs and passing earned several first downs as the Longhorns steadily clawed back and beat the Buckeyes for the first time in three tries over the past three seasons. Manning finished with 196 yards passing and completed 11 of his final 15 passes.

“We just had to get something going, I always knew we were going to be in it in the end," Manning said. “I'm so glad we won.”

The Buckeyes lost a game they had controlled.

Julian Sayin passed for 278 yards and Jeremiah Smith caught eight passes for 164 yards and a touchdown. But the offense produced just a single field goal after halftime, and Sayin’s desperation pass on the final play was intercepted before Texas players rushed on the field to celebrate the comeback.

“I felt, you know, we had them on the ropes and didn’t finish,” Ohio State coach Ryan Day said. "So we got to go back and figure out why that was.”

The matchup was the third time in three seasons the Longhorns and Buckeyes have played, including the playoffs in the 2024 season. They could meet again.

Ohio State's path to the postseason got a little harder with the loss as the Buckeyes' margin for error narrowed. Texas missed the postseason at 9-3 last year, including a loss to Ohio State.

“I told Ryan after the game, I hope to see you again,” Sarkisian said.

Ohio State: Smith was having the kind of game the Buckeyes' All-American had missed in his two previous matchups with the Longhorns. But key passes his way were covered or misfired late as the Longhorns contained him in the second half.

“I had a couple throws that should have been completions," Sayin said.

Texas: The Longhorns were nearly buried by early dropped passes, missed throws and turnovers in what looked like a primetime flop. Wingo's fourth-quarter touchdown catch made up for a wide open drop in a frustrating first half for the Longhorns.

Ohio State hosts Kent State on Sept. 19.

Texas hosts UTSA on Sept. 19.

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Texas running back Hollywood Smothers, top center, dives for the winning touchdown against Ohio State during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Texas players celebrate their win over Ohio State in an NCAA college football game in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)