WBA orders Teofimo Lopez to negotiate with Jack Catterall — 30-day deadline set
The WBA has ordered immediate negotiations for a Teofimo Lopez defence against Jack Catterall, giving the fighters 30 days — until October 22 — to reach a deal before a purse bid. The order complicates Lopez’s route to a Ryan Garcia showdown.
Eddie Hearn has announced that the WBA has ordered immediate negotiations for a fight between Teofimo Lopez and Jack Catterall, and the organisation has given the fighters 30 days to agree before a purse bid is called. The deadline falls on October 22. The order puts fresh pressure on Lopez, who has been linked with a lucrative showdown with Ryan Garcia, while Catterall — who won the WBA’s secondary title by beating Shakhram Giyasov and previously stepped aside to allow another champion to take a bigger fight — now has a mandated window to force a deal.
Immediate 30‑day negotiation window set, purse bid if sides can’t agree
According to promoter Eddie Hearn, the WBA has ordered immediate negotiations between Teofimo Lopez and Jack Catterall and given the fighters 30 days to finalise terms. If no deal is reached, the organisation will open a purse bid. The deadline reported is October 22. The WBA’s resolution moves the matter from talk to a formal process: Lopez must either agree to defend against Catterall, face a bid, or choose another course of action that removes the title from the equation.
Catterall presses his claim after waiting; X message underlines intent
Jack Catterall has been waiting for a shot at the WBA strap after beating Shakhram Giyasov for the organisation’s secondary title and previously stepping aside while another champion pursued a more lucrative fight. Catterall used social media to press his case, posting on X: “Hey mate @TeofimoLopez, you fancy scrapping on the Fury A-J card? If not, don’t worry, I’ll come to America and get my belt. Either way, I’ll see you soon, champ 🤝.” BoxingNews24’s coverage notes that asking Catterall to step aside again would likely require a substantial step‑aside payment, and the new WBA deadline shifts the negotiating pressure onto Lopez.
Big‑money Garcia fight versus mandated defence — a difficult choice
Teofimo Lopez is reportedly eyeing a lucrative fight with Ryan Garcia, and BoxingNews24 highlights the financial tension the WBA order creates. Garcia is described as a major draw who can sell pay‑per‑views with or without the WBA belt; defending against Catterall first could put that larger event at risk. The coverage lays out Lopez's strategic choices: negotiate and defend the WBA title, try to buy Catterall off, or vacate the belt to preserve a route toward Garcia. Lopez’s manager, Keith Connolly, posted on X that his team “were told something different by WBA” and that “Teo wants the biggest fights possible,” leaving open whether Lopez will comply with the WBA order or pursue other options.
Stylistic concerns and a possible UK purse bid complicate matters
BoxingNews24’s analysis points to stylistic reasons why Lopez’s camp might resist the Catterall mandate. Lopez was dropped by Sandor Martín in 2022 and spent a frustrating 12 rounds chasing Jamaine Ortiz in 2024; Catterall is profiled as a disciplined southpaw who can force opponents to lead, land straight lefts and work on the inside. Beyond styles, a purse bid presents another complication: if bids are opened, Matchroom could pursue the rights to stage the fight in Britain. That outcome is possible but not guaranteed and would depend on who bids and what sums are offered.