Teofimo Lopez quickly pitched a fight proposal to Ryan Garcia following Garcia's recent victory over Devin Haney at the end of April. Despite being overweight for the bout, Garcia not only won but also knocked Haney down three times. However, due to his weight issue, he missed out on claiming the WBC super lightweight title, which remained with Haney.
In an interview with Punsh Drunk Boxing, Lopez revealed he had spoken to his team and a Top Rank lawyer about a potential match-up. Eager to avoid complications related to weight classifications, he suggested a catchweight bout scheduled for September or December. Lopez expressed enthusiasm over Garcia's performance and noted that he was initially expecting Haney to win.
Lopez commented on the impressive win by Garcia despite prior concerns about his mental health and preparation. "Seeing Ryan overcome these difficulties has widened the scope of who I want to challenge next," said Lopez. His interest clearly piqued after watching Garcia tackle each round decisively.
Lopez solidified his standing in February by defeating Jamaine Ortiz in a 12-round unanimous decision. This victory ensured he retained his WBO super-lightweight title.
