On the latest episode of Inside The Ring, which aired on Thursday, The Ring’s Mike Coppinger reported that negotiations for the fight have advanced significantly this week and are expected to take place in the first quarter of 2027. He added that he still expects the fight to happen, regardless of Lopez being the WBA welterweight champion.

Garcia, 28, is the WBC welterweight titleholder.

Jack Catterall (33-2, 14 KOs) is Lopez’s mandatory challenger, and the WBA ordered the Brooklyn, New York, native to face him next. The two sides have until October 22 before the fight goes to a purse bid.

DAZN’s Chris Mannix reported during Saturday's broadcast of Floyd Schofield-Lucas Bahdi that Lopez (23-2, 13 KOs), The Ring’s No. 3-rated welterweight for its vacant title, could pursue legal action to face Garcia next without being stripped of his title. Catterall, a 33-year-old English southpaw, is The Ring’s No. 4-ranked welterweight and became the mandatory challenger for the WBA title with a dominant unanimous decision over Shakhram Giyasov on May 23 at Pyramids of Giza in Egypt.

Lopez, 29, won the WBA belt with a majority decision over Rolando “Rolly” Romero on August 22 in Las Vegas. Lopez’s win made him a three-division champion.

Garcia (26-2, 21 KOs, 1 NC), The Ring’s No. 2-ranked welterweight, notched his first successful title defense in his last fight with a second-round stoppage of Conor Benn on September 12 in Las Vegas. After the win, the Victorville, California, native called for a fight against Lopez to be next. Zuffa Boxing security kept Lopez from entering the ring with Garcia after the fight.

Garcia won the title by unanimous decision over Mario Barrios on February 21.