Ryan Garcia appears set to face Teofimo Lopez in a May clash at Times Square, serving as a tune-up ahead of his two-fight series with Devin Haney. Garcia (24-1, 20 KOs) would then meet Haney in October, with a potential trilogy fight penciled in for February 2026.
According to reports, Garcia recently signed a three-fight deal with Turki Al-Sheikh, who seems unconcerned about the possibility of a loss. Turki has emphasized his desire to adopt a UFC-like mindset in boxing, where a defeat doesn’t derail a fighter’s market value. Even if Garcia were to fall to Lopez, Turki is prepared to move forward with the Haney rematches.
Garcia hasn’t faced a dangerous puncher since his 2023 loss to Gervonta Davis. Critics note that Devin Haney doesn’t hit as hard as Lopez, meaning Garcia could be in trouble if Lopez connects as frequently as Tank did. Still, if Garcia manages a victory over Lopez, it will reinforce his status and intensify fan interest in the Haney rematch, especially following Garcia’s year-long suspension.
Meanwhile, Haney is reportedly aiming for an equally challenging bout on the same May card, potentially against former unified 140-pound champ Jose Ramirez. The notion that both Garcia and Haney would accept risky fights suggests Turki is pushing for competitive matchups rather than soft tune-ups. If the plan goes through, we will get a pair of high-stakes showdowns before the anticipated Garcia-Haney rematch later in the year.
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