Copyright Essentially Sports
Call it boxing politics or just good ol’ luck, but Ryan Garcia is back in business. Now ranked fifth in the WBA’s top fifteen, the California native recently saw his WBC ban lifted. He’s now all but set to face off against WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios. All this follows his humiliating loss to Rolando Romero earlier in May. Later, he underwent hand surgery, putting any return this year on the back burner. Now, Ryan Garcia is back in the limelight, and the proof isn’t hard to find. He’s just received a major callout from Teofimo Lopez. Their rivalry goes back years, as the two have known each other since their early days in the sport. But there’s a catch: Lopez is currently in talks for a momentous clash against another member of the so-called modern “Four Kings” – Shakur Stevenson. Reportedly, the two are close to finalizing a fight deal set for early 2026. So, it wasn’t long before Stevenson took notice of Lopez’s latest move. And, true to form, the Newark-born lightweight champion hurled a playful dig at his light-welterweight counterpart. ADVERTISEMENT Shakur Stevenson trolls Lopez after Ryan Garcia callout Laughing at Lopez’s comments, where he referred to a potential showdown with Ryan Garcia as a “final showdown,” Shakur Stevenson replied, “Final showdown? 😂” He added, “Actually I like this winner face, bum-a** Ryan. @RyanGarcia, are you down?” So, what did Lopez post to draw that brief volley of jibes from Stevenson? Sharing an old photo featuring himself alongside Ryan Garcia, Teofimo Lopez wrote, “Ryan Garcia, let’s kick a** and make it a final showdown next year!” Taking a swipe at Stevenson, he wrote, “The stars are aligning; just stay focused. Like the amateur days #Boxing #ShakurWillFall.” ADVERTISEMENT According to the latest reports, the matchup between Teofimo Lopez and Shakur Stevenson is close to being finalized. Both champions are coming off impressive wins. After knocking out Josh Padley, Stevenson delivered a memorable performance against William Zepeda. Lopez, meanwhile, was one of the few bright spots in the otherwise dull May 2 Fatal Fury card. ADVERTISEMENT Read Top Stories First From EssentiallySports Click here and check box next to EssentiallySports Garcia vs. Lopez – Future dance partners in the making? He defeated former interim champion Arnold Barboza Jr., making a compelling case for another major fight. Both he and Stevenson have engaged in a highly publicized back-and-forth, heightening anticipation for what many consider one of the biggest fights of 2026. Perhaps Lopez is already looking ahead to what comes after Stevenson. He’s made it clear he wants big fights. ADVERTISEMENT The two have exchanged callouts before. It’s possible Lopez is testing the waters following the latest development involving the WBC and Ryan Garcia. The Mexico-based sanctioning body had banned Garcia last year for several unsavory remarks. So they lifted the ban recently. Sharing the news, Garcia said, “I’m officially unbanned from the WBC. I want to thank the WBC for seeing my efforts of change and making this decision. I’m ready to put that green and gold belt on and represent as a true champion 👊🏻.” Two months ago, while speaking with The Ring, Garcia had also expressed interest in facing Teofimo Lopez. “I don’t know what’s going on with Teofimo Lopez. He’s been quiet. If he wants to run it, he can get it. I’ve always liked that fight for myself,” he said, adding that he believes he has the tools to push the light-welterweight champion to his limits. Fans should keep an eye on this space as more developments unfold among boxing’s “Four Modern Kings.” ADVERTISEMENT What’s your take? After Shakur Stevenson, should Teofimo Lopez pursue a matchup with Ryan Garcia or chase Devin Haney instead?
