Ryan Garcia’s next move remains unclear, with Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz offering a December option while a potential Teofimo Lopez fight remains complicated by a WBA mandatory dispute.
Cruz (29-3-2, 19 KOs) called out Garcia (26-2, 21 KOs) after stopping Nestor Bravo, and Garcia responded by saying there is “an offer on the table” for December.
Cruz holds the interim WBC title at 140 pounds and would have to move up to welterweight to face Garcia.
Reports have also surfaced of preliminary talks for a Garcia-Lopez fight targeting February 6, 2027 at Madison Square Garden. Garcia, however, has denied personally taking part in those discussions.
“This is not true. No discussions, at least from my side, has had that,” Garcia said.
Complicating a potential Lopez fight is Jack Catterall (33-2, 14 KOs), who has made clear that he does not intend to step aside from his position in the WBA welterweight title picture.
“Not going anywhere, not stepping aside,” Catterall said.
Catterall defeated Shakhram Giyasov by unanimous decision on May 23 to win the vacant WBA welterweight title. Before that fight, the WBA ruled that then-Super Champion Rolando Romero had to face the Catterall-Giyasov winner within 180 days.
Romero instead faced Lopez in August and lost his title, leaving Catterall and Matchroom arguing that the mandatory obligation should now carry over to Lopez. Lopez’s team has explored other options, while the WBA has yet to publicly order the fight.