Jack Catterall to Teofimo Lopez: fight me or vacate the WBA title
The Chorley welterweight says he is "50-50" on whether Lopez will take the WBA-ordered fight, and wants him to step aside if he would rather face Ryan Garcia.
https://twitter.com/ringmagazine/status/2102441515897499946
Jack Catterall has told Teofimo Lopez to fight him or give up the WBA welterweight title.
The WBA ordered Lopez to defend against Catterall on 22 September, with the camps given until 22 October to agree terms before a purse bid. Lopez has been angling for Ryan Garcia instead. Asked on The Ariel Helwani Show whether Lopez would take the fight, Catterall said he was not sure.
"I'm 50-50. I think if you look at Teo's resume, he's never ducked no fights. Listen, I understand the commercial value of a fight between Teo and Ryan Garcia. But in the same breath, Teo talked about wanting to unify the belt... I would love to fight Teo, but if that fight can't be done and he doesn't fancy fighting, then we would appreciate making the decision and vacating the title and let me carry on doing my thing."
The order is the closest Catterall has come to a world title since his disputed defeat to Josh Taylor in Glasgow in 2022.
Earlier: Jack Catterall's team press for Teofimo Lopez fight.
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