LAS VEGAS -- Ryan Garcia promised he would need five rounds or fewer to knock out Conor Benn. Garcia needed just two.

Garcia (26-0, 21 KOs) recorded his fastest knockout in six years, finishing Benn (25-2, 14 KOs) at 1:25 of the second round Saturday night at T-Mobile Arena. Referee Thomas Taylor ruled the WBC welterweight championship fight a TKO victory for Garcia after Benn was left virtually defenseless by shots along the ropes.

It was Garcia's fastest win since he scored a first-round knockout of Francisco Fonseca in February 2020.

Garcia, 28, defended the WBC title he captured against Mario Barrios in February for the first time and immediately called for unification bouts against WBA champion Teofimo Lopez and WBO champion Devin Haney.

"Teofimo, get that ass up here," Garcia told Lopez, who was in attendance. "We've got to clear this [division] out. I'll beat Devin Haney's ass again."

Garcia's victory was a massive statement, and it took place in Benn's first appearance under the banner of Zuffa Boxing. Garcia remains under promotional contract with Oscar De La Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions, but Saturday's event was funded and promoted by Turki Alalshikh, chairman of Saudi Arabia's General Entertainment Authority, and Dana White's Zuffa Boxing. Garcia's future promotional moves and partnerships could become a story of its own in the coming years.

That's especially true after Saturday's superstar performance. Benn, of Essex, England, tried to pressure and get in Garcia's face early but quickly ran into trouble. Garcia stunned him multiple times with his patented left hook before dropping him with a right hand in the opening 20 seconds of the second round.

Benn stood back up after the knockdown but never fully recovered. A prolonged flurry along the ropes eventually forced the referee to intervene.

It's the second consecutive fight in which Garcia has scored a knockdown with his right hand. He did the same against Barrios in the first round.

"I've always had a right hand. I've just always had injuries," Garcia said. "This is kind of the first two fights I had no injuries in my right hand. I'm happy, and I'm blessed. I want to thank Conor for a great buildup, great match. I respect him."

According to White, a sellout crowd brought in a gate of about $8 million. De La Hoya did not attend Saturday's fight, but White said the promotion did not tell him he should not be there.

"Garcia looked incredible," White said. "He did everything he said he was gonna do. We'll see how this plays out. [Garcia] has one more fight with Oscar De La Hoya."

Benn lost by knockout for the first time in his career. His only other loss came by decision in the first contest of a heated two-fight rivalry with Chris Eubank Jr. last year.

Garcia is 2-1 since he moved up to welterweight after his memorable no-contest against Haney in April 2024. Garcia defeated Haney in their WBC junior welterweight title fight, but it was overturned to a no-contest after Garcia tested positive for ostarine. Garcia denied knowingly taking any banned substances.