Manager Keith Connolly has now admitted that Teofimo Lopez may postpone his WBA mandatory defense against Jack Catterall while pursuing the Ryan Garcia vs. Conor Benn winner.
“Obviously, at some point, we’ll have to fight Jack Catterall, but let’s see what happens in a couple of weeks between Ryan Garcia and Conor Benn,” Connolly told IFL TV.
“Teo might be on to bigger and better things in the short term. And then we’ll take care of Jack Catterall either next or maybe the fight after that. We have to see what happens.”
Catterall would gain little by stepping aside. A title fight against Teofimo should pay considerably more than any compensation offered for surrendering his place, and a victory would leave Catterall holding the WBA belt when the Garcia–Benn winner begins looking for another major opponent.
Allowing Teofimo to take that fight first would only weaken Catterall’s position. Lopez could earn the enormous payday, lose the title in the process, or move toward another opponent, leaving Catterall waiting without any guarantee that his opportunity would retain the same value. His better business decision is to demand the Lopez fight next and pursue the Garcia–Benn winner afterward.
Jack Catterall Blocks Teofimo Lopez’s Three-Unification Plan
Jack Catterall says Teofimo Lopez does not have the freedom to select another opponent after capturing the WBA “Super” welterweight title from Rolando Romero on Saturday night.
When Ring Magazine asked who Teofimo should fight next following his majority-decision win, Catterall responded that the WBA had already provided the answer through its 180-day directive.
“180 days @WBABoxing which means November ✅ I understand the politics of boxing better than most. Rolly had a voluntary; now it’s time for my shot! No ducks, no more swerving. Me v Teo next,” said Catterall on X.
His message also answered Teofimo’s intention to pursue three consecutive unification matches without making a mandatory defense. Such a schedule would leave no room for Catterall and require the WBA to ignore or alter its previous ruling.
Romero was elevated to Super champion before Catterall defeated Shakhram Giyasov for the WBA’s secondary welterweight title on May 23. The WBA ordered the Super champion to face the winner within a maximum of 180 days, placing the deadline in November.
One voluntary defense has already been granted. Romero used it against Teofimo rather than facing Catterall, and the British southpaw does not believe the new champion should receive another exception.
A fight with the winner of Ryan Garcia versus Conor Benn is Teofimo’s preferred next step, and he has discussed collecting the remaining welterweight belts. Those matches involve more money than a Catterall defense, which explains his preference. Still, taking Romero’s belt also meant inheriting the obligation attached to it.
This is not merely a request for consideration. Catterall holds the secondary belt and has a WBA directive supporting his demand. If the organization enforces its own ruling, three straight unification fights will have to wait.
Teofimo Lopez Wants Three Unifications Without Facing One Mandatory
Teofimo Lopez believes his DAZN contract will take him directly from one welterweight unification to another without stopping for a mandatory defense of his WBA title.
The newly crowned champion is targeting Liam Paro, the winner of Ryan Garcia versus Conor Benn, and eventually Devin Haney. If Lopez gets his way, every appearance during the rest of his deal will involve another champion.
During his post-fight press conference, Lopez said:
“I got three fights with DAZN, and all of them are the road to undisputed. We’re going right to every world title. We’re not taking no title defense, no nothing. Whoever’s next, we’re going for him.”
A unification technically includes a defense of the belts involved, but Lopez’s meaning was clear. He does not plan to face an ordinary mandatory or ranked challenger between attempts to collect the other titles. If that plan proceeds, it will consume well over a year. Each fight requires negotiations between promoters, networks and boxing organizations before the participants complete training camps and recover afterward. Lopez also left the Romero fight with a cut over his right eyebrow that may delay his return.
The first unification depends on another event. Ryan Garcia and Conor Benn are scheduled to fight on September 12, after which the winner will need time to recover and negotiate with Lopez. The next stage against Liam Paro or Devin Haney requires another lengthy round of discussions.
Completing all three fights may leave contenders in several organizations waiting 12 to 18 months. Some will be forced into additional bouts to protect their rankings while the champion moves from one financially attractive unification to another.
Unifications often receive priority because reducing the number of champions is supposed to benefit boxing. That principle becomes difficult to defend when it is used repeatedly to prevent every other challenger from receiving an opportunity.
Granting one exception for a major fight is understandable. Three consecutive exceptions create a separate set of rules for the boxer who generates the most money. Ranked contenders must keep winning while Teofimo remains protected from facing any of them.
The strategy also depends on Lopez winning every fight. A loss transfers the collected titles to another champion, who may then request additional exceptions for more lucrative bouts. The waiting challengers must begin the same process again with someone new.
The schedule Teofimo described requires approval from more than DAZN. The WBA and the other organizations must authorize each step. If they permit three straight unifications without requiring a mandatory defense, the “road to undisputed” will become another example of boxing’s business interests overriding its competitive structure.
