‘Getting better’ – Mike Tyson gives 12-word prediction for Ryan Garcia vs Conor Benn as huge title fight nears

MIKE TYSON has revealed his pick for this weekend’s welterweight war between Ryan Garcia and Conor Benn. The pair, 28 and 29 respectively, will trade heavy leather for the WBC 147lbs strap in a Sin City showdown early on Sunday morning. Conor Benn challenges Ryan Garcia for the WBC welterweight title early on Sunday morning Credit: SHUTTERSTOCK Boxing legend Mike Tyson has given his prediction for the Sin City showdown Credit: GETTY The fight will be Garcia’s first defence of the green and gold belt he ripped from the clutches of Mario Barrios in February. Benn will look to follow in the footsteps of his famous dad, British boxing legend Nigel, by getting his hands on hardware from the Mexican sanctioning body. Sign up for the Sport newsletter Thank you! Fight fans are fiercely debating the outcome of the T-Mobile Arena tussle. The general consensus is that Benn may be too weight-drained to make a serious dent in speedy counter-puncher Garcia. READ MORE ON GARCIA VS BENN And that belief is seemingly shared by former undisputed king of the heavyweights Tyson. When asked who will emerge from the shootout victorious, Tyson told FightHype TV: “Ryan.” Tyson, unlike many others, seemingly isn’t completely sold on the idea of Garcia banking his first title defence via vicious knockout. He said: “We’ll see [if Garcia can knock him out]. Conor’s getting better.” Most read in Sport SUN VEGAS WELCOME OFFER: GET UP TO £100 BONUS Garcia vs Benn - all the info Benn’s first crack at a world title will mark his return to the welterweight division following a FOUR YEAR hiatus. And many people, including his former promoter Eddie Hearn, are concerned about the gruelling weight the Greenwich gladiator is undergoing to make championship weight on Friday. He told: “Fight Hype: “Conor trains so hard. I know we’ve had our differences, but his work ethic is incredible. “What he is doing to his body consistently, whilst being depleted, is really, really hard work. “And you can see it in his face. Not just in the drawnness; I can actually see it in his eyes. I can see the pain in his eyes. “Because when he’s at 160 and 154lbs, mate, he’s a beast and he’s coming out of training and eating and going again. “Waking up, eating and going again. Conor Benn hasn’t fought at welterweight since his second-round stoppage of Chris van Heerden in April 2022 Credit: PA ‘The Destroyer’ is currently in the midst of a gruelling cut down to championship weight Credit: INSTAGRAM@CONORBENNOFFICIAL “Now, he’ll be on a big calorie deficit and [on] fight week, he’ll be eating nothing, he’ll be on limited water – and that depletes you.” He added: “If he gets hit flush on the chin at 147 against Ryan Garcia, the fight is over. “So he’s got to rely on his ability, but he likes to engage and he likes to jump in. Ryan is so reactive; he’s a great counterpuncher. “Ryan can also be hurt, but I don’t think Conor’s going to punch hard enough at 47. “You only have to look at him to know [that]. And that’s just now; he’s probably 154 or 156lbs right now. “He’s gonna have to drop seven or eight pounds between now and next week. “Wait until you see him on the scales, it won’t be pretty.” Comment now