Teofimo Lopez news
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Teofimo Lopez gatecrashed the Garcia-Benn press conference in Las Vegas in disguise.
The WBA champion wants the winner, setting up a possible 2027 undisputed clash.
Background
Lopez became a three-division world champion last month by beating Rolly Romero to win the WBA welterweight title. He has openly said he wants to face the winner of Ryan Garcia vs Conor Benn, raising the prospect of a blockbuster fight in 2027. Garcia defends his WBC welterweight belt for the first time after winning it against Mario Barrios in February, while Benn comes in off April's win over Regis Prograis and a revenge victory over Chris Eubank Jr.
How it unfolded
- Sep 7, 2026Bad Left Hook publishes a Lopez interview reflecting on his win over Rolly Romero and his plans at 147.
- Sep 8, 2026Lopez offers his take on the Ryan Garcia vs Conor Benn clash.
- Sep 11, 2026Lopez gatecrashes the Garcia-Benn final press conference in Las Vegas in disguise as a reporter with a fake beard and wig, then calls out the winner from the crowd.
- Sep 12, 2026Garcia vs Benn WBC welterweight title fight scheduled at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Who’s saying what
- Party
- Lopez declared after revealing himself: "What's up, baby? I'm here. I'm here, motherf*****s."
- Party
- Garcia responded to Lopez's arrival with "Let's do it" and said "Yes, yes. I have to beat Teofimo first."
- Party
- Benn said "I'm not concerned. I don't focus on him and what he does, I focus on what I do" and that Garcia "seems to have enough problems as it is."
- Party
- Liam Paro wrote on social media: "If I'm so easy, let's unify next. Come get it, bitch!" and "Fight news dropping soon."
Still unverified
Boxing News 24 reports that a Ryan Garcia victory provides Teofimo Lopez a convenient loophole, with major sanctioning organizations consistently granting unification bouts preference over mandatory obligations, and that Lopez could formally ask the WBA to sanction an undisputed clash with the new WBC titlist, leaving Catterall with either an idle wait or step-aside compensation. Exactly who Liam Paro will face remains to be seen.