WBC welterweight champion Ryan Garcia says Devin Haney and Shakur Stevenson have both passed on fighting him, leaving former two-division titleholder Teofimo Lopez as his most realistic option for a July return.
Garcia, who captured the WBC belt from Mario Barrios, has spent the early months of 2026 publicly pushing for marquee opponents at 147 lbs. In video clips shared by Ring Magazine, he laid out the situation bluntly on March 16.
“I don’t have many options. Devin Haney ducked me. Shakur just ducked me. So, I got one option.”
That one option is Lopez, who lost a lopsided decision to Stevenson at 140 lbs on January 31. Garcia said he believes Lopez is willing to make the jump to welterweight for a title shot, though he acknowledged the size hurdle involved.
“For Teofimo to come to 147, it’s going to be hard for him. But he said he’s down,” Garcia said.
Speaking separately on a stream with content creator N3on, Garcia framed the fight as part of a broader commitment to staying active. “I’m the world champ now. I think the world champ should fight often,” he said.
The Stevenson negotiation
The breakdown with Stevenson appears rooted in weight. Garcia’s camp, led by his father and trainer Henry Garcia, insisted Stevenson meet him at the full 147-lb welterweight limit. Stevenson was reportedly open to a catchweight of 144 lbs but has since indicated he prefers to return to the lightweight division and pursue IBF champion Raymond Muratalla.
Garcia’s patience ran out publicly on March 6, when he posted on social media: “Just say you scared Shakur the new nick name for you is shakur shaking ass Stevenson.”
Stevenson has characterized the move to 147 as unnecessary at this stage of his career, effectively closing the door on an immediate showdown.
Haney rematch remains cold
The Garcia-Haney rivalry has history that goes beyond Garcia’s ducking claim. The two fought in Brooklyn in April 2024, where Garcia scored three knockdowns and won a majority decision. That result was later overturned to a no-contest after Garcia tested positive for a banned substance. The knockdowns remain Garcia’s primary promotional leverage in any rematch talks, but the failed test gives Haney’s side a counter-argument that extends beyond simple avoidance.
Haney is now reportedly close to finalizing a May 30 fight against Rolly Romero, moving in a different direction entirely. The purse split and A-side billing have been persistent sticking points. Haney has suggested that if Turki Alalshikh and Riyadh Season were to promote the fight, the traditional billing structure could become irrelevant, as fighters are often paid separate fixed amounts under that model.
Why Lopez makes sense
Lopez’s path at 140 lbs looks difficult after the Stevenson loss. Staying at super lightweight would likely mean facing contenders like Richardson Hitchins or Gary Antuanne Russell with diminished leverage. A jump to 147 for a shot at Garcia’s WBC title offers a cleaner commercial proposition, even if the physical adjustment is real.
Lopez himself has shown frustration with the pace of negotiations across the division. On March 7, he urged Garcia and Haney to stop debating billing and get a deal done. “Just freaking fight,” Lopez said. “The best time for this fight to happen, but we’re talking on who’s the A-side, B-side. Clearly, the boxing business is long-gating this in plain sight.”
That comment was aimed at the Haney rematch, but it also indicates Lopez’s interest in a high-profile fight.
Barboza waiting in the wings
Should the Lopez talks stall, Arnold Barboza Jr. has positioned himself as a willing alternative. Barboza defeated Kenneth Sims Jr. on March 14 and immediately called for the Garcia fight, saying negotiations for a February bout had fallen apart earlier this year.
“I think it’s the perfect fight for him. That fight was supposed to happen in February. We were negotiating that fight,” Barboza said.
Garcia is targeting a July return. Lopez is the frontrunner if the weight gap can be bridged, and the Haney and Stevenson routes look cold for now.
