RUMOR Garcia and Lopez reportedly near Feb. 6 unification in New York or Las Vegas

A Garcia-Lopez unification now has a target date and two possible cities, but not a signed contract. The Ring reports the pair are in advanced talks for Feb. 6, with New York and Las Vegas the options. No deal has been announced, and no venue, weight or title status has been confirmed publicly.

The biggest hurdle is Lopez's WBA belt. The organisation has ordered him to defend against mandatory challenger Jack Catterall, and his team has petitioned the WBA for an exception so the unification can go ahead. Until the WBA rules, the date is hard to treat as firm. Knockout Daily noted that nothing in the reporting says whether Garcia's WBC belt would be at stake either.

Both men arrive with fresh momentum. Garcia, 28, made the first defence of his WBC title on Sept. 12, knocking out Conor Benn in round two at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Lopez, 29, won the WBA title with a majority decision over Rolly Romero at the same venue in August. Combat Sports UK reports security stopped Lopez in the arena after Garcia's win. The camps had already been in advanced talks earlier this month over a first-quarter 2027 fight, so the February date would bring it forward.

There is also a complication in Garcia's schedule. On Oct. 21 he said he had agreed to fight Floyd Mayweather for the WBC title. His adviser said that bout waits until Mayweather is free of other obligations, and MMA Mania reported it would come in 2027 and is not official. If both fights happen, Lopez would come first.

Watch for the WBA's decision on the exception request, which will decide whether the unification can be made. After that, a venue and an official announcement are the next steps.