Ryan Garcia asked Teofimo Lopez to fight in December. Lopez’s answer was May 2027. The two welterweight champions agree that they want a unification fight, but Lopez says a meeting with Garcia’s promoter has already put a later date in view.
Garcia challenged Teofimo on X after asking why other fighters did not want to face him. Teofimo replied that he and Golden Boy Boxing had met for lunch two days after Garcia’s win over Conor Benn.
“We’ve said that a showdown in May 2027 is ideal for the welterweight world championship unification fight,” said Teofimo in response.
That is an expression of preference, not an announced deal. Garcia, the WBC champion, wants to return sooner. Lopez holds the WBA title he won from Rolando Romero in August. If Garcia takes a December fight of his own, the two could still meet in May, provided both retain their belts.
Lopez has a more immediate problem. The WBA has ordered him to face Jack Catterall, with their negotiation period ending October 22. If they fail to agree, the organization may order a purse bid. Lopez cannot simply pencil in a May unification and assume his title will still be available for it.
That order gives Catterall a place in the discussion that neither champion can dismiss through social media. Lopez could fight him, seek an agreement that lets him face Garcia first, or give up the WBA belt. The last option would remove the unification label Lopez used in his reply.
Garcia’s December challenge puts pressure on Lopez to explain what happens between now and May. Lopez’s response puts the same question back on Garcia: if May is already the preferred window, is Ryan asking for the unification early, or asking Lopez to abandon the plan?
Until the Catterall order and the date are settled, their public exchange is a negotiation over timing, with two titles at stake.
Ryan Garcia Pushes Teofimo Lopez Toward December Decision
Garcia has challenged Teofimo to fight in December, turning a possible 2027 welterweight unification into an immediate question for the WBA champion. The timing puts Teofimo in a bind: he has already been ordered to negotiate with Jack Catterall, and Garcia is asking him to make room for a different fight.
“Literally no one really wants the smoke in boxing what’s actually going on??? Yall really scared??? Teo does December sound good to go???” posted Ryan on X with his direct challenge of Teofimo.
Ryan holds the WBC welterweight title, and Lopez won the WBA belt from Rolando Romero in August. Their fight would be a unification, but Lopez has an obligation to Jack Catterall, who earned his shot by beating Shakhram Giyasov. Lopez and Catterall have until October 22 to reach an agreement.
That order gives Catterall a real say in Garcia’s December plan. He has indicated that he wants the Lopez fight rather than a payment to step aside. If Lopez cannot obtain an exception or reach an arrangement with Catterall, he may have to defend the title first or give it up to pursue Garcia. A fight without Lopez’s belt would still be valuable, but it would lose its unification claim and some of Lopez’s bargaining power.
Ryan also gains something by making the challenge publicly. He can show fans that he asked for the biggest available December opponent. If Lopez declines, Garcia can return to his proposed fight with Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz while arguing that he tried to make the unification first. That is a negotiating advantage, though a post alone cannot establish why any eventual fight fails to happen.
December would be a quick turnaround for both men. Garcia fought only two rounds against Benn; Lopez went twelve with Romero and was cut and shaken during their August bout. That makes Garcia’s proposed timing understandable from his side, but it does not establish that Lopez would be drained or unprepared.
A major fight would still need a contract, a date, a venue, and a broadcast agreement in the coming weeks. Ryan has put Lopez on the clock in public. Catterall and the WBA have already put him on one in writing. Lopez’s response to the mandatory order will say more about the prospects for December than either champion’s next callout.