Education will open the doors of opportunity: Ramaphosa
Education will open the doors of opportunity: Ramaphosa. Follow on XMultiple AuthorsEmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsRyan Garcia said he's ready to sort out boxing's welterweight division.
What happened
Ramphosa acknowledged SA's unemployment but re-iterated that education should be prioritised. Skip to main content Skip to navigation Garcia wants Lopez next; what about Shakur, Haney and 'Tank'? What next for Conor Benn after Ryan Garcia loss? 1dJames ReganRound-by-round: Ryan Garcia demolishes Conor Benn in two rounds2dBrett Okamoto and James ReganCan Ryan Garcia become this generation's face of boxing? 3dBrett OkamotoGarcia backs up talk, TKO's Benn in second round to retain WBC title2dBrett OkamotoOpetaia rocks Mikaelian by 9th-round TKO, faces off in ring with Benavidez2dBrett OkamotoVargas Jr. , son of retired ex-champ, arrested on suspicion of DUI3dLaguna, two-time champ and HOFer, dies at 835dZuffa says Opetaia-Mikaelian will go on despite DKP's complaint6dBrett OkamotoUsyk's camp say he's not Fury's 'back-up plan'7dPAFury suggests Joshua fight off, challenges Usyk7dConor Benn timeline: Family, controversies, Eddie Hearn fallout to Ryan Garcia fight2dNick ParkinsonConor Benn: Ryan Garcia's 'fast hands,' brutal weight cut, Dana White put ego aside5dJames ReganCatterall, Benn, Itauma, more: Ranking British boxers by likelihood of winning a title3dNick ParkinsonWomen's divisional rankings: Katie Taylor retires as queen of the 140-pound division6dBoxing divisional rankings: Mielnicki enters middleweight top five after dominant win2dESPNOne final time, Dublin sounded off for Katie Taylor8dChuck CulpepperGarcia wants Lopez next; what about Shakur, Haney and 'Tank'?
2dBrett OkamotoBoxing champions list2dBoxing schedule2dESPNMark Magsayo stumbles against Andres Cortes in second Zuffa outing2dNissi IcasianoEumir Marcial's Asian Games bid comes with four-day problem3dNissi IcasianoRyan Garcia-Conor Benn: Picks, predictions, more4dAndres FerrariOpetaia to Benavidez: 'Just give me the date and I'll be there'5dJake MichaelsRyan Garcia, above, said after his victory over Conor Benn that he wants to face fellow welterweight champion Teofimo Lopez next. Photo by Al Powers/Zuffa Boxing via Getty ImagesBrett OkamotoSep 13, 2026, 12:55 AM ETCloseBrett Okamoto has reported on mixed martial arts and boxing at ESPN since 2010.
The wider picture
He has covered all of the biggest events in combat sports during that time, including in-depth interviews and features with names such as Dana White, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Conor McGregor, Nate Diaz, Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao and Georges St-Pierre. He was also a producer on the 30 for 30 film: "Chuck and Tito," which looked back at the careers and rivalry of Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz. He lives in Las Vegas, and is an avid, below-average golfer in his spare time.
And boxing fans are in for a very fun chapter of fights if he gets what he wants. Garcia (26-2, 21 KOs) is on top of the sport after his second-round knockout of Conor Benn (25-2, 14 KOs) on Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The 28-year-old WBC welterweight champion has always had a knack for captivating audiences. Through two fights in 2026, his maturity and performances seem to be in line with his fame, as does his ambition.
Garcia has already secured some of the biggest fights available to him, namely Gervonta "Tank" Davis in 2023 and Devin Haney in 2024.
What has been reported
Garcia has said he wants rematches against both, as well as a welterweight unification bout against WBA champion Teofimo Lopez Jr. . "I think he's weak in his defense," Garcia said of Lopez during a postfight interview. "I think that people kind of overrate his defense. I think that he's much easier to hit than people think he is. I think that my punch is heavy, and once I crack him, I think that he'll stumble and I'll get him out of there.
Now, I'm not going to say it's going to be the easiest fight, but I know I'll get him out of there. "After Garcia's victory over Benn on Saturday, here's a list of potential opponents and what Garcia and his father/trainer Henry Garcia have to say about the potential matchups. Teofimo Lopez (23-2, 13 KOs), WBA welterweight championLopez, 29, moved up in weight late last month and claimed the WBA title by majority decision over Rolando "Rolly" Romero.
What happens next
It was an impressive bounce-back from a unanimous decision loss to Shakur Stevenson in January, a result that cost Lopez his WBO junior welterweight title. Lopez remains the only member of the original self-named "New Four Kings" whom Garcia has not yet fought. Lopez showed up at the prefight news conference in disguise and appears to be a good bet as Garcia's next opponent. Ryan: I think he's interested in the fight, so I don't think it's going to be too hard.
I think that's the easiest road, getting that fight done. He's with DAZN, and that just makes it a very easy fight to be made. Devin Haney (33-0, 15 KOs), WBO welterweight championThis is arguably the biggest potential fight for Garcia, given the circumstances around their first fight in April 2024.