Nigel Benn, the former WBC and WBO middleweight world champion, has once again taken a prominent role in the build-up to his son Conor's WBC welterweight world title challenge against Ryan Garcia in Las Vegas, despite previously insisting he was stepping back from Conor's career. The father-son dynamic has become a central story around the bout, with Nigel present at press events and media days, and both men suggesting neither is truly ready to let go of that involvement as Conor chases the world title Nigel himself won 36 years ago.

Conor Benn's route to this fight has been turbulent, including a doping case that halted his career for two years (he denies wrongdoing and had a provisional suspension lifted in November 2024), a bitter rivalry with Chris Eubank Jr, and a public split from promoter Eddie Hearn. Opponent Ryan Garcia has also served a one-year ban after testing positive for a banned substance following his 2024 win over Devin Haney, and denies knowingly doping. Should Conor win, the Benns would join a small list of father-son world champion pairings, including the Pattersons, Chavezes and Spinks family; the fight is being staged by UFC-backed Zuffa Boxing but will still carry the traditional WBC belt.