Teofimo Lopez’s manager Keith Connolly has met with Ryan Garcia’s manager Lupe Valencia and teased a “mega fight.” However, making Garcia–Lopez could require Teofimo to give up his WBA welterweight title, with Jack Catterall’s mandatory defense due.
The money fight can happen without two belts. The question is whether Teofimo can take his WBA championship into it while Catterall insists on getting his opportunity.
“Met up with Lupe Valencia today in San Diego for coffee,” Connolly wrote on Instagram, in a screenshot shared by Dan Rafael. “Boxing fans get ready Mega Fight coming.”
Connolly did not identify the matchup or announce an agreement, but meeting with Ryan’s manager and posting that caption gives Garcia–Lopez speculation something more substantial than another exchange of callouts.
It does nothing to settle the Catterall situation.
Teofimo and Catterall have until October 22 to negotiate a deal for their WBA title fight before the organization can move toward a purse bid. Catterall has made clear he won’t step aside, leaving Teofimo’s team with an obligation that a separate agreement with Ryan would not erase.
Unless the WBA grants permission for Garcia–Lopez to go ahead first, Teofimo could have to sacrifice his belt to pursue it. The deadline itself would not automatically strip him, but signing for Ryan would still leave the mandatory unresolved.
From a business perspective, losing the WBA title might be a price Teofimo is willing to pay. Ryan offers a commercially attractive opponent, and his WBC championship would give Teofimo another title to chase if the fight proceeds as a sanctioned defense.
That would change the promotion from a welterweight unification to a challenge for Ryan’s belt, without necessarily reducing the fighters’ interest in making it.
Connolly’s post suggests there is something to watch. Until the Catterall obligation is addressed, though, the two-title billing remains uncertain.