Arum Extends Warm Welcome to Teofimo Lopez vs. Ryan Garcia Matchup

The possibility of a match-up between Teofimo Lopez, under the banner of Top Rank, and Ryan Garcia largely depends on Garcia's relationship with his own promoter, Golden Boy, according to statements made by Top Rank's Bob Arum.

Ryan Garcia, the emerging junior welterweight sensation from Victorville, California, found himself in a very public dispute with Golden Boy founder Oscar De La Hoya after his notable loss to Gervonta Davis in their high-profile bout at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas this past April. Davis secured victory with a seventh-round knockout.

With a record of 23 wins, 1 loss, and 19 knockouts, Garcia openly criticized De La Hoya for his absence at the post-fight press conference, triggering a response from De La Hoya on Twitter. The situation escalated when De La Hoya shared a friendly photo alongside Rolando Romero, a rival of Garcia, further intensifying the tension.

During a recent interview, Arum disclosed that he has received positive signals from both De La Hoya and Golden Boy president Eric Gomez regarding a potential showdown between Lopez and Garcia. Another complicating factor for this match stems from Top Rank and Golden Boy's exclusive network partnerships, although this particular issue wasn't addressed in the interview: Top Rank with ESPN and Golden Boy with DAZN.

Arum conveyed, "Yes, I've had discussions with Oscar and Eric, who I consider good friends. They express interest in making this fight happen. However, the feasibility hinges on their rapport with Ryan. I can't delve too deeply into the matter as I lack sufficient information. Nevertheless, if they can facilitate Ryan's participation, it has the potential to be a monumental bout for both fighters, and I'm certainly intrigued. Collaborating with Golden Boy on co-promotions is something we've done frequently."

Having previously unified the lightweight division, Lopez (19-1, 13 KOs) appears to have revitalized his career by clinching a title at 140 pounds after a 12-round victory over Josh Taylor at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City in June. Following his unexpected loss to George Kambosos Jr. in 2021, Lopez's actions have been marked by inconsistency both inside and outside the ring.

Arum holds strong belief in Lopez's ability to reign supreme in the junior welterweight category, provided he can shield himself from distractions. Lopez revealed that he was undergoing a challenging divorce leading up to the Taylor bout, which Arum indicated was the catalyst for Lopez's initial retirement announcement. However, Lopez subsequently reversed this decision, notifying the WBO of his intention to retain and defend his title.