- The WBA has ordered Teofimo Lopez to defend his welterweight title against mandatory challenger Jack Catterall, with talks running to October 22 before purse bids
- Lopez's team say WBA president Gilberto Mendoza assured them three weeks ago the fight would not be ordered, and are now meeting lawyers about the belt
- Lopez wants Ryan Garcia in 2027, but Garcia is talking to Isaac Cruz first, so there is no calendar excuse to swerve Catterall
Catterall Finally Gets His Letter
Right then. Jack Catterall has been waiting for this for a long time. On Tuesday the WBA ordered Teofimo Lopez to defend his welterweight title against the Chorley southpaw, with a 30-day negotiation window that closes on October 22. No deal by then and it goes to purse bids.
Catterall earned this the hard way. He beat Shakhram Giyasov on a unanimous decision in Giza back in May in a fight that was billed as a final eliminator. At the time the winner was meant to get Rolando Romero. Then Lopez beat Romero on a majority decision in August and inherited the lot — the belt, and the mandatory that came with it.
Catterall is 33, he is 33-2 with 14 stoppages, and he is on a three-fight winning run since stepping up to 147. He is not a novelty challenger. He is exactly the kind of fighter a mandatory system is supposed to protect.
Teofimo Lopez Wants A Different Fight
Let's not beat around the bush about where Teofimo Lopez's head is. He wants Ryan Garcia. He climbed into the ring after Garcia stopped Conor Benn in two rounds in Las Vegas on September 12 to make that very clear. Lopez vs Garcia in the first half of 2027 is the big money fight, and Jack Catterall is the obstacle in the road.
And the reaction from his camp has been telling. Lopez's team say WBA president Gilberto Mendoza personally told them three weeks ago that Catterall would not be ordered, so Teofimo could chase something bigger. Now Lopez is meeting his managers and his legal team to decide whether he even wants the WBA in his future plans.
Make no mistake, that is a champion looking for the exit door. You do not bring the lawyers in because you are excited about a fight.
The Excuse Does Not Stand Up
Here is the problem with Lopez's position. Garcia is not sitting around waiting for him. Garcia has put a December offer to Isaac Cruz after Cruz stopped Nestor Bravo in San Diego, which means Teofimo Lopez has a window to defend against Catterall, win, and still be first in line for Garcia next year. The calendar works. The only thing that does not work for him is the risk.
Why Teofimo Lopez Is Nervous
This is the bit nobody in Lopez's camp will say out loud. Catterall is a horrible style for him. He is a southpaw who boxes on the back foot, controls range with a sharp jab, and punishes you when you overreach. He does not stand and trade. He makes you lead, and then he makes you pay for leading.
We have seen what that does to Teofimo. Fighters who refuse to get drawn into a shootout have frustrated him before, and a frustrated Lopez gets reckless. He loads up, he follows people to the ropes, and he gives away rounds trying to find the one big shot. Against Catterall that is a recipe for a very long, very uncomfortable twelve rounds.
And the maths is brutal. Beat Catterall and it adds nothing to the Garcia fight — casual fans in America do not know who he is. Lose to Catterall and the Garcia fight is gone. All risk, no reward. That is why the lawyers are involved.
The Verdict
I will call it straight. I do not think Teofimo Lopez fights Jack Catterall. I think either there is a step-aside deal, or Lopez gives up the WBA belt before a purse bid is called and goes after Garcia with the rest of his hardware. If you know, you know — this is how the business works, and Catterall has been on the wrong end of it before.
If the fight does happen, I am taking Lopez on points, but a lot closer than people think, and I would not be shocked by a split decision. Catterall is good enough to make it ugly. That is exactly why the other side does not want it.