Talks Heat Up for a Teofimo Lopez vs Ryan Garcia Showdown
Two of the more talked about fighters in the sport are reigning WBO junior welterweight champion Teofimo “The Takeover” Lopez (19-1, 13 KOs) and the hard-hitting Ryan Garcia (23-1, 19 KOs). More and more, there seems to be a concerted effort to stage a fight between the two.
PICKING UP STEAM
As 3kingsboxing.com reported on September 20, Garcia’s promoter and CEO of Golden Boy Promotions, Oscar De La Hoya, hinted about the possibility of a Lopez versus Garcia matchup in February 2024 during Super Bowl weekend. That has been followed by a recent meeting between De La Hoya and Bob Arum, the promoter of Lopez. De La Hoya posted the following on social media about his talks with Arum:
There’s more to this developing situation. To stir up the pot even further, Arum spoke to the news outlet Fight Hub TV and said the following when asked if Garcia would be the next fight for Lopez:
“Yes, hopefully against Ryan (Garcia) . . . I can’t guarantee that, but that’s what Teo is looking at.”
Lopez hasn’t fought since capturing the WBO title with a unanimous decision victory over Josh Taylor on June 10. Following that victory, Lopez announced he was retiring. But in July 2023, The Takeover informed the WBO that he plans to fight again.
A VERY BANKABLE FIGHT
Despite never winning a world title, Garcia is one of the most marketable fighters in the sport. His April 2023 loss to Gervona “Tank” Davis was a huge financial success. Word on the street is that Garcia pulled in a career-high $30 million for that fight.
Lopez is a polarizing figure. Fans either love or despise him. A two-division champion, he’s likely to make headlines for his mouth as much as his ring exploits. During the lead-up to his fight against Taylor, the 26-year-old made headlines when he went on a tirade against his current promoter and made comments that some boxing observers viewed as racially offensive.
The ingredients for a high-profile fight are often a combination of in-the-ring talent sprinkled with some controversy. Under that scenario, both fighters fit the bill, which could mean a likely big payday for all parties involved.
Garcia has a fight coming up against Oscar Duarte on December 2. Should Garcia come away victorious, his next fight could be a showdown with the junior welterweight champion. Please stay tuned to 3kingsboxing for any further updates.
