WBA rejects Teofimo Lopez's appeal: he must face Jack Catterall, with 10 days to make a deal
Lopez wanted a unification fight with WBC champion Ryan Garcia instead, but the WBA says his team has not asked for the special permit that fight would need.
Teofimo Lopez has lost his bid to get out of a mandatory defence against Jack Catterall. The WBA has rejected his team's request for reconsideration and upheld the order for Lopez to defend his WBA 'super' welterweight title against the British fighter, in a resolution issued on Wednesday 11 November.
The two camps now have 10 days to agree a date for the fight or propose an alternative solution. If no agreement is submitted in that time, or if either side refuses to take part in the negotiations, either can ask for a purse bid, the WBA said.
The WBA Championships Committee's decision, as quoted by Boxing News, reads: "After reviewing Teofimo López's request for reconsideration, his mandatory defence against Jack Catterall is upheld. The parties have 10 days to reach an agreement; otherwise, either may request a purse bid."
Lopez's team wanted a unification with WBC champion Ryan Garcia to come first, and petitioned the WBA for an exception. The WBA said a unification with another sanctioning body's champion could be considered through a special permit under its Rule C.39, but that as of the date of the decision Lopez's team "had not submitted a formal request for special permission". Boxing News reported that Lopez's team has hinted he may consider vacating the belt to keep talks with Garcia alive.
The order goes back to May, when the WBA made Rolando Romero its 'super' champion and ruled that he must face the winner of Shakhram Giyasov v Catterall within 180 days. Catterall beat Giyasov on 23 May to win the WBA's 'regular' title, and Lopez took on the obligation when he beat Romero on points on 22 August. The WBA ordered 30 days of negotiations on 22 September, and that period ran out on 22 October without a deal. Lopez's team filed for reconsideration on 2 October, while Catterall's promoter, Matchroom Boxing, asked the WBA to uphold his right to the fight.
Garcia and Lopez had been in advanced talks for a unification on 6 February, according to The Ring, but Garcia has since said he will face Floyd Mayweather on that date. Catterall's only previous world title shot was a decision defeat by Josh Taylor at super-lightweight in 2022.
Every UK fight result and what's next, every Friday. Get the free UK fight briefing
More Boxing from Combat Sports UK
- Josh Kelly v Boots Ennis official for Atlanta as Hearn says winner has 'one more to collect'
- Martin Bakole returns against unbeaten Solomon Adebayo on Fury vs Joshua card in Cardiff
- Adam Azim says he could beat Gabriel Gollaz Valenzuela 'quite easy' in IBF eliminator
- Junto Nakatani v Ramon Cardenas verbally agreed, likely for early 2027, promoter says
The UK fight briefing
The stories, results and upcoming fights worth knowing. Every Friday.