Jack Catterall says Rolly Romero's plan to have an interim fight 'is not ideal'

Jack Catterall, arguably in the form of his career, is now targeting only big names. So bring on Rolly Romero, Devin Haney, and Conor Benn. Oh, and Ryan Garcia, Lewis Crocker, and Liam Paro.

Catterall, 32, is actively chasing a showdown with Romero, first and foremost. Catterall picked up the vacant WBA 'regular' welterweight title when he convincingly outpointed Shakhram Giyasov on May 23 in Egypt. Romero is now the 'super' champion with the same organisation and has been given 180 days to resolve differences with Catterall, 33-2 (14 KOs).

The Englishman remains hopeful, but not certain, that he'll get his chance.

"News is filtering down now that he's going to take an interim fight, a keep-busy fight, in August which is not ideal," Catterall told Sky Sports. "There's potential to get cuts, etc, but either way, I'm going to fight for that 'super' title. And if not, I'm in a great division with a lot of top fighters and a lot of titles. Nobody has unified yet so there's an opportunity to do that. There's some great fights to be made."

Without a doubt, Catterall has earned his right to fight those big names. Since ending up on the wrong side of highly contentious 2022 decision versus Josh Taylor, then undisputed champion at 140, the southpaw has won seven of eight. And though he defeated Taylor in their 2024 rematch, the fact that he should long ago have had all four belts is something still hard to stomach.

He hopes, however, that the WBA welterweight belt he now owns makes him more attractive to opponents who have not been keen to entertain his advances in the past.

"I like the winner of [Lewis] Crocker-[Liam] Paro, Conor Benn, Devin Haney, Ryan Garcia, Romero," he said. "I'd fight all of them, whenever.

"I've got my piece of the puzzle now and hopefully that brings some weight to the table. I'm confident in winning all of these fights."