Jack Catterall is counting down the days while Teofimo Lopez looks toward a lucrative fight with Ryan Garcia.
On Monday, Catterall tagged Lopez on X: “23 days @TeofimoLopez ⏳.” He is making the mandatory fight difficult to ignore.
The WBA ordered Lopez and Catterall to negotiate on September 22. Its official deadline is October 22, a day later than Catterall’s countdown suggests. If they cannot agree, the WBA may order a purse bid.
Teofimo faces a risky choice. Catterall is a southpaw who can deny him the exchanges he wants, counter when he lunges, and turn twelve rounds into a frustrating night. Lopez has had trouble pinning down cautious opponents before. He recently won the WBA title from Rolando Rolly Romero in August by a narrow 12-round majority decision, with one judge scoring the fight even. Catterall would give him another demanding style to solve, with a much larger payday potentially waiting against Ryan.
If talks break down, Matchroom could win a purse bid and bring the fight to Britain, forcing Teofimo to face Catterall in front of his home crowd. Teofimo wants to fight Ryan in May 2027, but holding on to the WBA belt until then would leave Catterall waiting for a shot he has already earned. Catterall has made it clear he won’t step aside.
If Teofimo gives up the belt just weeks after scraping past Romero, he loses bargaining power for the Ryan Garcia fight. Fans will also ask why he won the title only to walk away when Catterall came calling. Garcia has his own WBC title and drawing power, so the fight could still sell without Lopez’s belt.
Catterall’s countdown puts the pressure on Lopez. If Lopez gives up the belt, the boxing world will watch him walk away from his mandatory challenger in broad daylight.