Ryan Garcia and Teofimo Lopez are closing in on a blockbuster boxing showdown, with negotiations reportedly advancing significantly for a potential clash in the first quarter of 2027.
According to The Ring’s Mike Coppinger, discussions have made considerable progress this week, raising the prospect of a high-profile matchup between the reigning WBC welterweight champion and the WBA titleholder. An exact date and venue have yet to be confirmed.
“KingRy” has been pushing for the matchup since his most recent outing, when he stopped Conor Benn in the second round on September 12. The victory marked his first successful defense of the WBC title he captured against Mario Barrios in February.
Ryan Garcia And Teofimo Lopez Move Closer To Blockbuster Fight
Lopez was seated ringside for Garcia’s victory over Benn. Following the stoppage, Garcia publicly called him out, prompting Lopez to attempt to enter the ring before Zuffa Boxing security intervened. The tense exchange added fuel to a matchup that could become one of boxing’s biggest fights in 2027.
“The Takeover,” meanwhile, bounced back from his loss to Shakur Stevenson with a majority-decision victory over Rolando Romero on August 22 in Las Vegas. The win secured the WBA welterweight title and made Lopez a three-division world champion, improving his professional record to 23-2, with 13 knockouts.
Garcia, 26-2 with 21 knockouts, enters the proposed contest following back-to-back victories over Barrios and Benn. The 28-year-old Californian would face a formidable opponent in Lopez, who is 29 and has already captured world titles across three weight classes.
Despite the progress in negotiations, “The Takeover” faces a potential obstacle involving his WBA title. Jack Catterall is the mandatory challenger after defeating Shakhram Giyasov by unanimous decision on May 23, and the WBA has ordered Lopez to face the English southpaw next.
The two sides have until October 22 to reach an agreement before the contest proceeds to a purse bid. Coppinger nevertheless reported that he expects “KingRy” and Lopez to fight, even with Lopez’s championship obligations complicating the situation.
