The long-standing rivalry between Ryan Garcia and Devin Haney is not something that boxing fans have not seen or heard of. Only a few days ago, Haney’s father, Bill Haney, even publicly confronted Garcia in London outside a hotel, adding fuel to the fire. The Victorville native, in turn, had announced his readiness to return to the ring with “big fights” on the horizon. So with everything happening, the probable match seemed inevitable. So why the delay in an official announcement? There may be another figure in between vying for a spot.

Thanks to His Excellency, Turki Alalshikh, the fight between Garcia and Haney may not be as straightforward as anticipated. The head of the Riyadh Season recently revealed a twist in the story. What exactly is the twist?

The Devin Haney rematch deal is done but…

Not very long ago, HE Turki Alalshikh made a major announcement on his X. He revealed that Ryan Garcia has signed a contract for his next fight with Riyadh Season with an official announcement coming very soon. The message read, “The deal is done… The opponent is set… Big news coming soon… Exclusive in The Ring Magazine… Let’s get boxing great again… 🥊🔥” In the post, Garcia is signing the contract with his lawyer, Lupe Valencia seated beside him.

This marks the signing of his first fight, after his suspension, following the controversial no-contest fight with Devin Haney in April 2024 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. However, according to a recent report from Ring Magazine, the challenging turn is that Garcia’s fight in May will be a warm-up match against an undisclosed opponent. Haney, too, will face an opponent possibly on the same card somewhere in the US. If both fighters win their respective bouts, they will face off in a rematch this October, marking the opening of the Riyadh Season in Saudi Arabia. This means that both Garcia and Haney will have to wait before they get a chance to fight each other again.

Boxing fans have reacted strongly to Alalshikh’s announcement, with many expressing excitement for Garcia’s return. Some fans are hopeful for Garcia’s victory and a showdown with Haney, while others are eager to see Garcia back in the ring after a long hiatus. But what was surprising was the WBO Super Lightweight champion Teofimo Lopez chiming in on the post.

So what happened is, that the 27-year-old, right after Alalshikh’s post, hinted at his own involvement in Garcia’s deal by commenting, “Let the games begin! 🤝@Turki_alalshikh.” To which, Alalshikh replied with “😎🥊🔥”, which might suggest that the next opponent for Ryan Garcia just might be Teofimo Lopez.

However, if you wonder how his name got associated with Ryan Garcia, then one must remember what happened on Saturday evening last week in London.

Ryan Garcia vs. Devin Haney II: Is Teofimo Lopez in the Mix?

The Ring Magazine Awards Event in London was a pivotal moment for Ryan Garcia. While talking to Radio Raheem from Seconds Out on the red carpet, the 24-1 boxer was asked about the potential rematch with Devin Haney. KingRy did not rule out the fight but made it clear that Haney would need to drop his lawsuit against him first.

In an interesting twist, Garcia also hinted at a potential fight with Teofimo Lopez. When asked about his future opponents, Garcia revealed, “It’s looking like I’m gonna fight Teofimo Lopez, so that’s good. You know, I’ve seen him today. It’s a little strange. But other than that, ready to whup his a**.” Despite Lopez’s unexciting unanimous decision victories over Jamaine Ortiz, and Steve Claggett in his last two fights, his fiery style could make for a fresh and explosive challenge for Ryan Garcia. But that’s not the end.

Oscar De La Hoya, Garcia’s promoter, further fueled speculation when he spoke about the potential of a fight between Ryan Garcia and Teofimo Lopez. During a recent interview with Fight Hub TV, De La Hoya stated, “We have to make the best fights possible, and there are fighters like Teofimo Lopez.” Even though HE Turki Alalshikh was invested in a rematch between Ryan Garcia and Devin Haney, the Golden Boy expressed that there’s no point in it. Why? Because it was a clean victory as the 31-0 boxer was down three times during their fight.

As Ryan Garcia gears up for his return to the ring, the boxing world is on edge. With the possibility of Garcia facing multiple potential opponents on the horizon, boxing enthusiasts are eagerly awaiting what comes next. Will he face Devin Haney in October, or will Teofimo Lopez present a new and exciting challenge? And what about the fight with Rukiya Anpo? Will they ever fight?

What do you think? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!