Ryan Garcia identifies two potential options for a fight before Teofimo Lopez in May

Ryan Garcia, fresh from a one-sided, two-round stoppage of Conor Benn at the weekend, is keen to get back in the ring as soon as possible.

There is widespread speculation that a battle with fellow welterweight beltholder, Teofimo Lopez, is in the works for May but the 28-year-old WBC boss is plotting a fight in the interim.

He has long wanted a rematch with Gervonta Davis but with “Tank”, who won their 2023 encounter in seven rounds, indicating he would only entertain a sequel at 140lbs, that ship may have forever sailed.

Furthermore, with a lucrative showdown against Lopez in the offing, Garcia alluded to Ariel Helwani that his next opponent might not quite be on that level.

Though Garcia “won’t call it a tune-up” it could serve more than one purpose; to stay sharp and, perhaps more importantly to Garcia, to act as the final bout of his current contract with Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy.

Once that is done, Garcia will be expected to box on a card managed by Turki Alalshikh, with the WBC/WBA unification scrap on Cinco De Mayo weekend with Lopez fitting the bill.

"I either want to get in the ring in December or January," said Garcia.

"I'm pretty sure I'm going to fight before [May]."

When pushed on who he might fight Garcia named two junior welterweights who would move up: Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz or Angelo Fierro.

Cruz is due to fight Nestor Bravo on Saturday whereas Fierro, who sparred Garcia ahead of the Benn showdown, does not yet have a date in the diary.

"I won't call it a tune-up, but I don't want to get off guard and wait till May to fight,” Garcia reasoned.

"Why do I have to wait until May? I have no bruises; I have no hits to the head… Why can't I fight? I'm going to give the fans a little treat."