Teofimo Lopez Wants Ryan Garcia Next — and a Welterweight Superfight Is Suddenly Possible

Teofimo Lopez has a new belt, a new division and apparently a very specific target. Rather than looking immediately toward a routine title defense, the newly crowned WBA welterweight champion is reportedly targeting the winner of Ryan Garcia vs. Conor Benn.

That instantly changes the stakes around the September 12 fight in Las Vegas. Garcia will defend his WBC welterweight title against Benn at T-Mobile Arena. If Garcia wins, boxing could suddenly have a two-belt showdown between two of the sport’s most recognizable personalities.

Why Ryan Garcia vs. Teofimo Lopez is the obvious attraction

Ryan and Teofimo do not need much help selling a fight. Both have large audiences, unpredictable personalities and the ability to generate attention well beyond the hardcore boxing crowd. More importantly, the matchup would now carry legitimate championship stakes at 147 pounds.

Lopez moved into the welterweight picture by defeating Rolando “Rolly” Romero and claiming the WBA title. Garcia holds the WBC belt. Put them together and the promotion writes itself: two stars, two belts and two fighters who rarely struggle to create headlines.

Stylistically, it is interesting too. Lopez is at his best when he can read an opponent, control distance and punish mistakes with explosive counters. Garcia brings elite hand speed and one of boxing’s most dangerous left hooks. Neither man is naturally built for boring promotion or cautious expectations.

Conor Benn can wreck the entire plan

There is one obvious problem: Ryan still has to beat Conor Benn. Benn is not entering September 12 as a supporting character in somebody else’s future fight. He has his own opportunity to take the WBC title and completely redirect the welterweight division.

If Benn wins, Lopez’s reported interest in the winner means Teofimo-Conor Benn becomes the conversation instead. That fight would have a different commercial profile than Lopez-Garcia, but it would still be a significant unification between major names.

What about Jack Catterall?

Jack Catterall remains part of the WBA picture, but the reported preference from Lopez’s side is the Garcia-Benn winner. That is easy to understand commercially. Boxing is a business, and a unification involving Ryan Garcia would likely offer far more attention than a conventional defense.

The danger is looking too far ahead. Boxing has a long history of future superfights disappearing because the fighter everyone expected to win did not. September 12 has to happen first.

The welterweight division suddenly has a storyline

For a division that has been searching for its next defining rivalry, this is exactly the kind of crossover fight that can create momentum. Lopez has already made his preference known. Garcia has the belt he wants. Benn has the chance to take it away.

If Ryan handles business in Las Vegas, Ryan Garcia vs. Teofimo Lopez should immediately become one of the biggest fights available at 147 pounds. If Benn wins, Teofimo may still have his next opponent — just not the one most people expected.