Ryan Garcia engaged in theatrical taunts with Conor Benn, using a boiled egg during a combustible press conference ahead of their upcoming welterweight title fight. Garcia, known for his significant social media presence with over 13 million Instagram followers, brought a theatrical element to the event.
Minutes after taking his seat, Garcia produced an egg, peeled it, and consumed it whole, referencing Benn's father's reaction. This action was a pointed nod to Benn's two positive tests for clomifene in 2022, for which the WBC had previously suggested elevated egg consumption could offer a reasonable explanation. Garcia also commented that his egg was dry and could have used honey.
The atmosphere was further charged by Garcia's own history. He previously served a doping suspension after testing positive for ostarine following his 2024 fight against Devin Haney. Both Garcia and Benn have denied knowingly taking banned substances.
Security had confiscated an egg from Garcia's pocket before the face-off, possibly to prevent a recurrence of an incident last year where Chris Eubank Jr. reportedly struck Benn with an egg. While Garcia and Benn had to be separated at their launch event in New York in July, this encounter was more subdued. As Garcia continued his remarks, Benn gestured for quiet, smiled, and eventually left the stage, signaling an end to the confrontation.