The newly crowned WBA welterweight champion posed as a reporter for DAZN and asked questions from the media section inside T-Mobile Arena. The disguised Lopez drew laughter from Benn and Garcia once he removed a fake beard and reminded them that he wants the winner of their WBC 147-pound championship clash Saturday night at the same venue.

Garcia spent much of an expletive-laden event belittling Benn for masquerading as a welterweight. The favored Garcia (25-2, 20 KOs, 1 NC) repeatedly questioned whether Benn (25-1, 14 KOs) would make weight Friday morning because the English challenger hasn’t fought at the welterweight limit since April 2022.

“He’s definitely not 150 yet, that’s for sure,” Garcia said. “We know that. Here’s the thing – he’s setting up excuses, as you heard. ‘I’m going to 168.’ Motherf-----, this is a title shot at 147. The f--- you talking about? And let me let him in on a little secret: Even if he makes the weight, your brain can’t rehydrate fast enough. Them punches gonna do some real damage.

“And I heard his dad talking like he was gonna knock me out. Bet he won’t. We could bet whatever, too. Your son ain’t gonna knock me out. He couldn’t even knock out Regis [Prograis, in his last fight]. Your dad ain’t right. Your dad lying to you. I hope you know that – your dad lying to you. …

"If you don’t come out safe out that ring, that’s your dad’s fault, and your fault. Remember that, because I’m not f------ with you.”

Benn informed Garcia that he has never missed weight during his 10-year career, whereas Garcia came in 3.2 pounds overweight for his ill-fated fight versus rival Devin Haney in April 2024. Garcia also tested positive for ostarine, a banned substance, following his majority-decision victory over Haney, which was changed to a no-contest as a result of Garcia’s transgression.

“I think he just needs to worry about himself,” Benn said. “He seems to have enough problems as it is. So, I just focus on me. I don’t look at him. I don’t care what he does. Ultimately, I worry about what I do. I feel unbelievable. I cut no corners, and we’re here now. We’ll see who makes weight tomorrow.”

Garcia also addressed his team’s request submitted to the Nevada State Athletic Commission, which would allow them to fight in eight-ounce gloves even if Benn comes in above the contracted weight of 147. In accordance with Association of Boxing Commission regulations, bouts contested above 147 pounds typically require 10-ounce gloves, which have more padding and can do less damage than eight-ounce gloves.

“I’m just making sure that if he does not come in on weight,” Garcia said, “I still wanna use the weapons that I’m used to using, which are eight-ounce gloves. So, it’s more just a cautionary thing in case he doesn’t make weight, that I still get to use eight-ounce gloves. Because that’s what I always fight at, 147, and I don’t wanna fight with 10-ounce [gloves].

"You know, it’s more deadlier at eight ounces anyway, so that’s kinda why I did that.”

An antagonistic Garcia set the tone for their press conference when he ate a hard-boiled egg as soon as it started. That was his way of mocking Benn’s performance-enhancing drug ordeal, which caused an abrupt cancelation of his middleweight fight with Chris Eubank Jr. in October 2022.

Benn contended that his high consumption of eggs caused him to test positive for clomiphene multiple times prior to his high-profile showdown with Eubank. Once Benn completed his suspension in the UK, Eubank memorably cracked an egg on his face at the initial press conference for a fight that was rescheduled for April 2025.

“He has a lotta familiarity with eggs,” Garcia said, “so I thought it was fair that I eat some today.”

The Garcia-Benn card will be streamed by Paramount+ in the United States and by DAZN in the UK and Ireland for no additional charge to subscribers. DAZN will also offer the Garcia-Benn show on pay-per-view to non-subscribers in the UK and Ireland (£24.99).

Garcia also addressed his team’s request submitted to the Nevada State Athletic Commission, which would allow them to fight in eight-ounce gloves even if Benn comes in above the contracted weight of 147. In accordance with Association of Boxing Commission regulations, bouts contested above 147 pounds typically require 10-ounce gloves, which have more padding and can do less damage than eight-ounce gloves.

“I’m just making sure that if he does not come in on weight,” Garcia said, “I still wanna use the weapons that I’m used to using, which are eight-ounce gloves. So, it’s more just a cautionary thing in case he doesn’t make weight, that I still get to use eight-ounce gloves. Because that’s what I always fight at, 147, and I don’t wanna fight with 10-ounce [gloves].

"You know, it’s more deadlier at eight ounces anyway, so that’s kinda why I did that.”

An antagonistic Garcia set the tone for their press conference when he ate a hard-boiled egg as soon as it started. That was his way of mocking Benn’s performance-enhancing drug ordeal, which caused an abrupt cancelation of his middleweight fight with Chris Eubank Jr. in October 2022.

Benn contended that his high consumption of eggs caused him to test positive for clomiphene multiple times prior to his high-profile showdown with Eubank. Once Benn completed his suspension in the UK, Eubank memorably cracked an egg on his face at the initial press conference for a fight that was rescheduled for April 2025.

“He has a lotta familiarity with eggs,” Garcia said, “so I thought it was fair that I eat some today.”

The Garcia-Benn card will be streamed by Paramount+ in the United States and by DAZN in the UK and Ireland for no additional charge to subscribers. DAZN will also offer the Garcia-Benn show on pay-per-view to non-subscribers in the UK and Ireland (£24.99).

Keith Idec is a senior writer and columnist for The Ring. He can be reached on X @idecboxing.