Ryan Garcia just put the welterweight division on notice, not just by defending his WBC belt, but by immediately calling for a title unification showdown against WBA champ Teofimo Lopez. This isn’t just talk, folks; Garcia is coming off a second-round TKO over Conor Benn this past Saturday at the T-Mobile Arena, and he is laser-focused on adding another world title to his record. After that kind of performance, who could blame him for eyeing the biggest fights out there?
Garcia Made Quick Work of Benn, Proving a Point
Look, Garcia (25-2, 20 KOs) absolutely blitzed Conor Benn (25-1, 14-KOs) in his first defense of the WBC welterweight belt. This was quick work, a second-round TKO stoppage that had everyone buzzing. There were plenty of folks who thought Benn’s grinding style would push Garcia, give him a tough outing, but that just didn’t happen. Garcia himself said it “kind of went exactly how I imagined it.” Benn decided to put pressure on him right away, probably banking on Garcia somehow folding or getting tired, but as Garcia bluntly put it, “you can’t jump in like that. It’s just not the move.” The trash talk leading up to the fight was heavy, but Garcia settled it all in the ring. He felt Benn wasn’t at his level, and he truly believes he proved it on Saturday. He even said, “He’s exactly what I thought he was, and he just needs to gain a little bit more experience.” He still thinks Benn will be back, but the experience gap was clear.
The Call for Unification: “That’s The Move”
With Benn in the rearview mirror, Garcia already has his sights set on Teofimo Lopez, and for good reason. He wants to unify those belts, and the history between them makes this a must-see. Lopez won the WBA welterweight title just last month by defeating Rolly Romero, who had previously taken the WBA title from Garcia himself in a huge upset back in 2025. That means there’s a serious storyline brewing here. Garcia told reporters at the post-fight press conference, “I want to unify against Teofimo. I think that’s the move. It’s a huge fight. Teo is an an entertaining dude, and it’s going to be one hell of a buildup. He’s a good fighter, too. Let’s run it.” That’s the kind of direct challenge you love to hear from a fighter who just put on a show.
This isn’t just about a belt; it’s about reclaiming what was lost and cementing his place at the top. The boxing world is already buzzing about this potential matchup. Get ready, because if this unification bout happens, it’s going to be an absolute firecracker. We’re all looking forward to seeing what Garcia does next!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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