Ryan Garcia vs Teofimo Lopez targeted for 6 February as Jack Catterall waits on WBA

Ryan Garcia and Teofimo Lopez are targeting a welterweight title fight on Saturday 6 February 2027, with New York and Las Vegas the two cities in the running to host it.

The Ring’s Mike Coppinger reported that talks are advanced. “Would be surprised if Garcia-Teofimo didn’t take place next,” he wrote on X. No fight has been officially announced, and there is still a major obstacle: Jack Catterall.

Ryan Garcia vs Teofimo Lopez: What has been reported

Coppinger’s report names 6 February as the target date, with New York and Las Vegas as the venues under discussion. DAZN’s Chris Mannix first floated the same date in September, naming Madison Square Garden, although Garcia said at the time that he knew nothing about it.

Mannix has since reported that the Lopez fight will take priority over any bout with Floyd Mayweather Jr, despite Garcia’s adviser Guadalupe Valencia talking up the financial potential of that one.

WBC v WBA: Both men arrive as champions

Garcia won the WBC welterweight title from Mario Barrios in February, then made a statement in his first defence by stopping Conor Benn in the second round at T-Mobile Arena on 12 September.

Lopez became a three-weight world champion three weeks earlier at the same venue, beating Rolando Romero by majority decision for the WBA title. That came seven months after his heavy defeat to Shakur Stevenson.

Fighter	Title	Record	Last fight
Ryan Garcia	WBC welterweight	26-2 (21 KOs)	Stopped Conor Benn, round 2 (12 September)
Teofimo Lopez	WBA welterweight	23-2 (13 KOs)	Beat Rolando Romero, majority decision (22 August)

Where does this leave Jack Catterall?

The WBA ordered Lopez to face Catterall, his mandatory challenger, on 22 September. Lopez has appealed, arguing that the obligation applied to Romero rather than the new champion, and he has said he is willing to take the dispute to court.

Catterall has made clear he will not step aside. The WBA has yet to rule. Talks with Garcia can continue in the meantime, but if Lopez loses his title, the fight would no longer be a unification.

What happens next?

The WBA’s ruling on the Catterall appeal is the key next step, followed by a confirmed venue and an official announcement. Garcia has also been linked with a December date, but nothing has been signed. Until a contract is agreed, 6 February remains a target rather than a booking.

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