De La Hoya Doubts Mayweather-Garcia, Favors Lopez Bout

Oscar De La Hoya does not believe Ryan Garcia will actually fight Floyd Mayweather on February 6, 2027, despite weeks of social media buildup between the two. The Golden Boy Promotions CEO said he expects Garcia to instead face WBA welterweight champion Teofimo Lopez that same month on DAZN.

"I do love that Teofimo fight, uh, sometime in February on DAZN," De La Hoya said in an interview with Sean Zittel. "And you know the Floyd Mayweather thing, yes, there are a lot of rumors, a lot of speculation. Who knows? I don't think it will happen, but look if it does, I've always said yeah, it's a 50/50 fight."

How Did the Mayweather-Garcia Talk Start?

Ryan Garcia set off the rumor on October 21 when he posted on social media that a Hall of Fame boxer had contacted him about a title fight. "Trust me at first I thought this was bull," Garcia said. "But it's real Floyd, and I agreed to a fight at 147 for the WBC welterweight championship of the world, 50-0 vs. the current champ." He followed up with an Instagram post showing what appeared to be a FaceTime call with Mayweather.

Mayweather stayed quiet on the matter until November 1, when he posted an advertisement for an upcoming exhibition bout that included the line, "This is a lil tune-up before me and Ryan Garcia lock up Feb. 2027." That post made the fight look close to official, at least from Mayweather's side.

Why De La Hoya Is Steering Garcia Toward Lopez

De La Hoya's preference comes down to what Garcia actually stands to gain. Garcia (26-2, 21 KOs) has one fight left on his Golden Boy contract, and a win over Lopez (23-2, 13 KOs) would make him a unified titleholder at welterweight and add a genuine résumé win against a former undisputed lightweight champion. A fight with the 48-year-old Mayweather (50-0, 27 KOs), win or lose, does little for Garcia's standing. A loss would be a career embarrassment, and a win would draw little credit given Mayweather's age and long retirement from competitive boxing.

Betting Angle

Until a promotional entity other than Mayweather himself confirms a fight, bettors should treat the Mayweather-Garcia matchup as speculative and keep their focus on Garcia-Lopez as the live outcome for February. If Golden Boy and DAZN finalize Garcia against Lopez, expect Garcia to open as the betting favorite given his power and activity edge, with Lopez's length and boxing IQ keeping the number from getting lopsided. Anyone holding futures or prop bets tied to a Mayweather-Garcia bout should factor in De La Hoya's comments as a real signal that the fight may never get made, even with Mayweather's own promotion pushing it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will Floyd Mayweather fight Ryan Garcia?

It remains unconfirmed. Ryan Garcia and Floyd Mayweather have both teased a February 6, 2027 bout on social media, but Garcia's promoter Oscar De La Hoya says he does not believe the fight will actually happen.

Who does Oscar De La Hoya think Ryan Garcia will fight instead?

Oscar De La Hoya said he expects Ryan Garcia to face WBA welterweight champion Teofimo Lopez in February on DAZN rather than Floyd Mayweather.

What is Ryan Garcia's current contract situation with Golden Boy?

Ryan Garcia has one fight remaining on his contract with Oscar De La Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions.