While Ryan Garcia and Teofimo Lopez are in talks to collide early next year, it could be that their hoped-for unification match is not sanctioned as such.

As things stand, Lopez is the reigning WBA welterweight champion following his clash with Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero, who he dethroned with a majority decision victory in August.

Then, the following month, Garcia retained his WBC 147lb title – which he had acquired by dethroning Mario Barrios in February – with a second-round finish over Conor Benn.

But while the two Americans are now targeting a showdown on February 6, a refusal to face mandatory challenger Jack Catterall could lead to Lopez getting stripped of his belt.

Speaking to IFL TV, Catterall’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, seemed confident that the WBA will stand by its ruling and award his client a full world title shot, or just simply elevate him from ‘regular’ to ‘super’ champion.

“The WBA made their decision. They ordered the fight [and] Team Teofimo Lopez complained. They said: ‘We’d like you to reconsider; we’d like to look at having a unification.’

“And people like [Lopez’ manager] Keith Connolly say: ‘A unification always supersedes a mandatory.’ [But] not when [the mandatory has] already been ordered, and not when there’s a backlog of about three years.”

In terms of the “backlog”, Hearn is referring to the fact that previous champions, such as Romero, were able to skip past their mandatory challengers.

The Matchroom promoter therefore feels that Catterall occupies a strong position, whether he ends up facing Lopez or is elevated to WBA ‘super’ champion.

As for a potential clash between Lopez and Garcia, Ring Magazine’s Mike Coppinger has reported that the fight is likely to take place in New York or Las Vegas, regardless of any ruling by the WBA.

“[I] would be surprised if Garcia-Teofimo didn’t take place next. [February 6] is the targeted date right now as talks continue. The WBA decision won’t impact talks and neither will any prospect of a Floyd Mayweather fight. That, in the unlikely event it happens, would take place after Teo.”

Would be surprised if Garcia-Teofimo didn’t take place next. Feb. 6 is the targeted date right now as talks continue. The WBA decision won’t impact talks and neither will any prospect of a Floyd Mayweather fight. That, in the unlikely event it happens, would take place after Teo. https://t.co/j5yhkIT6KL

— Mike Coppinger (@MikeCoppinger) October 25, 2026

Indeed, Garcia has been linked to a bizarre fight with Mayweather but, according to Coppinger, it remains unlikely that they will collide anytime soon.