Ryan Garcia crushed Conor Benn with a ruthless second-round stoppage to retain his WBC welterweight crown in a world title mismatch in Las Vegas. The American dominated from the opening bell, repeatedly punishing Benn as the 29-year-old charged forward with a wild and increasingly desperate approach. Benn was dropped by a flush right hook in round two but managed to beat the count before Garcia continued the onslaught with Benn backed against the ropes until the referee stepped in.

The defeat marks the second loss of Benn's 10-year professional career. Few gave the Essex fighter much chance, with Benn having never faced an opponent of Garcia's calibre. Benn was fighting at welterweight for the first time in more than four years and had already said this would be his final appearance in the division. Garcia, 28, stayed true to his promise to stop Benn inside five rounds as he made a successful first defence of the title with his 26th win from 28 professional contests.

Earlier in the evening, a moment's silence was held before Monday's first anniversary of the death of Ricky Hatton. Benn's travelling support was modest, with only pockets of British fans visible among the 18,855 crowd at T-Mobile Arena. Benn, dressed in black with a Union Jack carried behind him, was greeted by a wall of boos. Garcia, of Mexican heritage, took considerably longer over his entrance, walking out to mariachi music on Mexican Independence Day weekend. Retired three-weight undisputed champion Terence Crawford and actor Cuba Gooding Jr watched from ringside. In the end, the stoppage was justified as Benn looked dejected while attention quickly switched to Garcia. Garcia exchanged words with WBO champion Teofimo Lopez at ringside.