Video: Conor Benn stoic vs. bouncy Ryan Garcia at final faceoff

Tensions ran high between rising star Ryan Garcia and seasoned contender Conor Benn as they faced off in the moments leading up to their highly anticipated bout on Saturday night. While it appeared Garcia to be the one playing psychological games, a remark about his background from Benn evidently unsettled the WBC world welterweight champion.

This bad blood spilled over into their final press conference and a subsequent face-off on Thursday. Both men exchanged sharp words, with Benn visibly more agitated than his opponent. In an attempt to level the playing field, the 28-year-old Garcia pulled a bizarre move moments before they were set to enter the ring. Caught on camera, Garcia can be seen attempting to smuggle two eggs into his pocket and sharing a joke with fellow world champion Jai Opetaia as he prepared to confront Benn.

Benn has a history with eggs dating back to 2022, when a highly anticipated all-British bout against long-time rival Chris Eubank Jr. was canceled due to Benn's positive test for clomiphene - a substance found in excessive amounts in his system, allegedly caused by consuming too many eggs. This comment has made Benn a target, with both Eubank Jr. and now Garcia seeking to make a statement.

However, Garcia's plan backfired as security quickly spotted the eggs and removed them from the ring, preventing any potential mishap during the highly anticipated showdown.