“Ryan is burnt. He hasn’t been the same since his first fight with Tank. He got popped. He never got back into his type,” McIntyre said on Brian Custer’s YouTube channel. “I’ve seen Benn firsthand. Man, he’s going to hurt that dude [Ryan]. You heard it first from BoMac.”
Ryan’s 2023 loss to Gervonta Davis was followed a year later by a strong performance against Devin Haney. That result became a no-contest after Garcia tested positive for ostarine.
McIntyre’s confidence in Benn brings up an interesting detail. Benn carries his own history with positive tests for a banned substance, clomifene, in 2022. He later received clearance to resume fighting in Britain.
Benn has not stopped an opponent since April 16, 2022, when he weighed 146½ pounds to finish Chris van Heerden in round two in Manchester.
That bout was the last time Benn fought at the welterweight limit. His recent match with Regis Prograis took place at a 150-pound catchweight. The drop to 147 is a real factor for September 12.
Benn looked lean getting down to 150. Getting down another three pounds may require a tougher water cut, which could affect how well he recovers by fight night.
McIntyre sees a diminished Garcia getting hurt, but Benn’s recent results don’t provide much evidence of the destructive puncher BoMac remembers. More than four years have passed since his last stoppage, and now he must return to 147 for the first time since knocking out van Heerden.
