Potential Lightweight contender Ryan Garcia and former champion Javier Fortuna agreed on terms for a fight this summer, a source confirmed to ESPN.
In March, the CMB ordered Garcia to fight Fortuna in a defense of the CMB Interim Lightweight title. The winner will likely be in contention to face Devin Haney, who has the highest sanctioning body belt in the 135-pound division.
The location and date have yet to be determined, but sources have confirmed to ESPN that it probably won’t happen on July 10, which is the same date as UFC 264 with the trilogy fight between Conor McGregor and Dustin Poirier. The news of the García-Fortuna fight was first reported by The Athletic.
Garcia (21-0, 18 KOs) comes from a win in January over Luke Campbell, which was the toughest fight in the 22-year-old’s career. Fortuna (36-2-1, 25 KOs), who was once the junior lightweight champion, has won three consecutive fights since a non-contest against Adrian Granados in 2018.
Friday’s development comes exactly two weeks before a scheduled money offer if Garcia and Fortuna’s promoters could not reach an agreement.
Garcia, who has one of the biggest followers on social media in boxing, has long been seen as one of Golden Boy Promotions ’top prospects. Garcia defeated Campbell with a technical knockout in the seventh round through a big blow to the body, Garcia’s fifth consecutive knockout victory.