Boxing
Can Benn follow Smith path to shock America with title gold?
Garcia vs. Benn live on DAZN PPV - Saturday
Conor Benn steps into the ring for the biggest fight of his career this coming weekend when he faces Ryan Garcia in Las Vegas.
'The Destroyer' will arrive at the T-Mobile Arena chasing the WBC welterweight strap - and with it, his place in the history books.
The son of famed British fighter Nigel, Benn has already bolstered his stock in the past two years following time in the wilderness.
His duology with Chris Eubank Jr. earned a blockbuster deal with Zuffa Boxing - and now, he has the chance to earn a world title.
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Benn will be the unfancied outsider, given Garcia's own pedigree among the faithful - but could he echo Dalton Smith in Sin City?
DAZN News explores how the former could follow in the latter's footsteps and spring a surprise to shock America on its own turf.
What did Smith achieve?
The Sheffield fighter was an outsider when he headed stateside in January to meet Subriel Matias at Brooklyn's Barclays Center.
Smith was eyeing up the WBC light-welterweight title, but despite his unbeaten pedigree, found himself as the underdog challenger.
He need not have worried. A superb five-round performance that climaxed with him dropping his foe earned him the belt instead.
It proved to be the perfect coming-of-age performance away from home - a terrific moment for the Steel City star in the Big Apple.
It is that kind of turn that Benn may do well to echo as he seeks to curtail Garcia's rein one division above with the same body too.
How can Benn echo Smith?
Smith admitted in the aftermath that he threw tactical caution to the wind, and sought to stand up Matias at his own game instead.
That is an element that Benn is familiar with after effectively pushing Eubank Jr.'s tactics back against him in their own rematch.
Though far from a foolproof plan, the Briton will know that Garcia - a superb technician prone to mixed messages - is susceptible.
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The American's resolute confidence in his reputation is clear to see, particularly after he picked apart Mario Barrios in February.
But if Benn takes an approach that disrupts his flow by mimicking 'Flash' and his moves, he could prove disruptively efficient.
What comes afterwards for Benn?
Irrespective of a win or a loss, 'The Destroyer' has suggested he will not remain at welterweight beyond his bout with Garcia.
The struggle to trim back down after two fights at middleweight has been far from easy for Benn, as seen in his last outing.
That means a move to super-welterweight is likely in the air - but the result he earns here may dictate what level he earns too.
Victory could theoretically fast-track a path to further title opportunities at the top end of a new division, as a current champion.
Defeat, however, would likely leave the star needing to facilitate a rebuild through the ranks to prove his worth as a contender once more.
Watch Garcia vs. Benn on DAZN
Britain's Conor Benn looks to become a world champion for the first time against US superstar Ryan Garcia on Saturday, September 12.
Watch the fight exclusively in the UK & Ireland and other territories (check for availability) on DAZN PPV or included in our Ultimate Tier subscription.
