Teofimo Lopez ordered to defend WBA title against Jack Catterall
Quick Look
- The WBA has ordered Teofimo Lopez to defend his super welterweight title against mandatory challenger Jack Catterall, with negotiations due by 22 October or a purse bid to follow.
- Lopez, 29, has pursued a unification fight with Ryan Garcia instead, while Catterall, 33, earned his position by defeating Shakhram Giyasov in May and holds two career losses to Josh Taylor and Arnold Barboza Jr.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Teofimo Lopez won the WBA super welterweight title by defeating Rolando Romero last month. Jack Catterall became the mandatory challenger and WBA regular title holder after beating Shakhram Giyasov in May.
Teofimo Lopez has been ordered to defend his WBA world title against Briton Jack Catterall.
Lopez became the WBA 'super' welterweight champion with a points win over Rolando Romero last month.
Catterall, 33, is Lopez's mandatory challenger but the American has been campaigning to fight WBC champion Ryan Garcia in a unification bout instead.
The WBA has now announced they expect Lopez to fight Catterall next, and the two parties have until 22 October to reach an agreement or there will be a purse bid.
Catterall became the number one challenger and WBA 'regular' title-holder after beating Shakhram Giyasov in May.
He acknowledged the WBA's ruling on X, saying: "Hi Teofimo Lopez."
The Chorley native last fought for a world title in 2022 when he was controversially beaten by then undisputed light-welterweight champion Josh Taylor.
Lopez, a three-weight world champion, could withdraw from negotiations and relinquish his world title, which may lead to Catterall being upgraded to world champion.
Lopez attended the Garcia v Conor Benn fight week in Las Vegas earlier this month and was stopped from entering the ring after Garcia's quick win.
Catterall has just two defeats on his record - to Taylor and American Arnold Barboza Jr - with 33 wins and 14 stoppages.
Lopez, 29, also has two losses during his career, a 2021 points loss to George Kambosos Jr and more recently a decision defeat by Shakur Stevenson in January.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Teofimo Lopez and Jack Catterall will reach an agreement to fight by 22 October
Likely · Within weeks
If no agreement is reached, a purse bid will be held for the Lopez-Catterall fight
Likely · Within weeks
Open Questions
- Will Lopez agree to fight Catterall or pursue the Garcia unification bout?
- What will happen if negotiations fail and a purse bid is triggered?
- Could Lopez relinquish his title, allowing Catterall to be upgraded?
