Jack Catterall insists his title fight with Teofimo Lopez must come next, while Teofimo’s manager Keith Connolly left the outcome open with a brief response on X: “Let’s see how it all plays out.”
The comments come as Teofimo seeks to overturn the WBA’s order to face Catterall and the October 22 negotiation deadline approaches. Catterall expects the organization to enforce the arrangement established before he fought Shakhram Giyasov.
“Was awarded a voluntary title shot coming off a loss. Im next,” Catterall wrote. “I’ve got no doubts the WBA will honour what they said and agreed before I boxed Giyasov. More waiting around but it is what it is.”
Connolly’s response stopped short of promising that Catterall would get the fight. It also offered no explanation of how Teofimo’s team expects the dispute to end, leaving Catterall waiting while the champion pursues an exception.
The WBA’s published ruling supports Catterall’s account of the arrangement. When Rolando Romero was elevated to super champion at welterweight, the organization allowed him one optional defense, with the Giyasov-Catterall winner due to face him afterward. Teofimo defeated Romero on August 22 and inherited that obligation.
Teofimo’s appeal seeks permission to pursue bigger fights. That may make commercial sense for his team, but Catterall completed the route the WBA established. Allowing another opponent would mean extending his wait after the optional defense had already been used.
Catterall’s reference to Teofimo receiving a title shot coming off a loss sharpens his complaint. Teofimo received an opportunity without having to rebuild first. Catterall now wants the opportunity attached to his own win over Giyasov.
The sides have until close of business, Eastern Time, on October 22 to reach an agreement. If negotiations fail or either side withdraws, the WBA Championship Committee may order a purse bid with its president’s approval. That is a possible next step, rather than an automatic event on deadline day.
Teofimo could relinquish the belt to pursue another opponent. Keeping it while avoiding Catterall, however, would require the WBA to change the conditions it had already attached to the title.