Teofimo Lopez appears to have mapped out his plans for the next 12 months.
Lopez has become one of the best 140lb fighters in the world, ever since moving up to the division in 2022.
He defeated Josh Taylor in June 2023 to win the WBO belt, and after two lacklustre defences, returned to his best last time out with a points victory over previously unbeaten Arnold Barboza at Times Square in New York in May.
His success at super-lightweight came after previously reigning as the unified lightweight champion, and Lopez now appears set to take on another man who has found success at 135lbs in Shakur Stevenson.
Three-weight world champion Stevenson currently holds the WBC lightweight title, making the latest defence of his belt in July when he beat William Zepeda at the Louis Armstrong Stadium in New York.
Lopez and Stevenson have gone back and forth on social media over the last week, where it was revealed that the pair have agreed to a fight with one another in January.
If Lopez is successful in that bout, he has now announced which fighter he plans to target next – Ryan Garcia.
“After I whoop on Shakur Stevenson and make him cry like the lil b**ch he is.. I am calling out Ryan Garcia.”
Garcia is one of the biggest names in the sport, but has had a difficult time over the past year or so, beginning when his victory over Devin Haney was overturned to a no contest after a failed drugs test.
‘King Ry’ returned in May against Rolly Romero, but was dropped on his way to an upset defeat. As he looks to get his career back on track, a potential bout against Lopez would certainly provide that opportunity.
