Cris Esqueda/Matchroom Boxing | Mark Robinson/Matchroom BoxingThe WBA has again ruled that Teofimo Lopez must defend his welterweight championship against Jack Catterall, the secondary titleholder, after seemingly rejecting his bid to instead engage in a unification with WBC boss Ryan Garcia.
A Garcia-Lopez showdown has been in the offing since Garcia thrashed Conor Benn in September, with Lopez watching from ringside.
Lopez claimed the WBA 147lbs title – the “Super” version, no less – when he defeated Rolly Romero in August. Before that contest, WBA president Gilberto Mendoza announced that the winner must next face Catterall, who picked up the “world” (also known as “regular”) belt in May when he defeated Shakhram Giyasov.
As ever with multiple WBA titles, it's far from clear what will happen next. The organization was criticized for its initial decision to upgrade then-“world” champion Romero to “super” champion, allowing the “world” title to be contested between Catterall and Giyasov.
However, as things stand, Lopez and Catterall now have 10 days to reach an agreement before a purse bid is called. Should a bout not be agreed, Lopez faces being stripped of his title.
Or so it seems.
The WBA's ruling suggests that, “as of the date of this decision,” Lopez had not submitted a formal request to compete in a unification bout. An appeal is therefore likely, according to reports.
Teofimo Lopez plans to appeal the WBA's ruling that he must defend his title against Jack Catterall, sources told @SInow. Lopez's team says they filed a request for permission to fight in a title unification with Ryan Garcia on 11/5. A copy of that request was reviewed by SI.
In its decision, WBA says Teofimo Lopez never requested an exemption to fight a unification against Ryan Garcia. Which it sounds like they would have allowed.
The ruling read:
"After reviewing the arguments and documents submitted by both parties, the WBA based its decision on Rule C.17 of its regulations, which grants the Presidency and the Championships Committee the authority to establish the criteria, conditions, and requirements for the defense and retention of a Super Championship, including mandatory obligations.
"The resolution also clarifies that unification bouts with other sanctioning bodies may be considered through a special permit, as provided under Rule C.39.
"However, as of the date of this decision, Lopez's team had not submitted a formal request for special permission to pursue a unification bout.
"Consequently, the WBA reaffirmed that the Super Champion must fulfill his mandatory defense against the mandatory challenger, while acknowledging the need to establish a new timetable since the original deadlines have expired."
Catterall, meanwhile, labelled Lopez's plan to appeal as "pathetic".
"Right all I want to do is move forward with my career," he wrote on X. "I respect you Teofimo Lopez so either fight me or vacate!!! No more fucking around."
Matt Christie, a lifelong fight fan, has worked in boxing for more than 20 years. He left Boxing News in 2024 after 14 years, nine of which were spent as editor-in-chief. Before that, he was the producer of weekly boxing show “KOTV.” Now the co-host of “The Opening Bell” podcast and regularly used in the UK as a pundit, Matt was named as the Specialist Correspondent of the Year at the prestigious Sports Journalism Awards in 2021, which was the seventh SJA Award he accepted during his stint in the hot seat at Boxing News. The following year, he was inducted into the British Boxing Hall of Fame. He is a member of the BWAA and has been honored several times in their annual writing awards.
