Jack Catterall refused to yield in Teofimo Lopez’s path, rejecting any payment to surrender his position in the WBA welterweight title picture as their October 22 negotiation deadline approached.
His response left little room for compromise. Catterall said he wanted the fight he felt he had earned, while Lopez sought permission to bypass him for a unification against WBC champion Ryan Garcia.
“NO there isn’t an amount of money you can give me to step aside end of discussion,” Catterall posted on X. “I want what i deserve I want what I signed up for and I want to become a world champion and I won’t except any fucking offer to move out the way.”
Teofimo’s team had requested an exception from the WBA to pursue Garcia. Catterall could refuse to cooperate, but the sanctioning body would still decide whether its order resulted in a fight or another delay.
That is where Catterall has reason to worry. The WBA also ordered Jaime Munguia to defend against Bektemir Melikuziev, yet Munguia is scheduled to face Nikita Zon on October 31 instead. The organization said it did not approve that matchup and is reviewing the situation. Melikuziev is still waiting for his ordered opportunity.
An order does little for a mandatory challenger if the champion continues arranging other fights. The WBA’s response to Munguia has yet to put Melikuziev in the ring with him. Catterall needs more than another statement confirming his position.
Eddie Hearn wants Teofimo to fight Catterall or vacate the belt. If Teofimo prefers the Ryan Garcia payoff, Catterall should not have to put his career on hold to accommodate him.
Catterall will not move. Now the WBA must decide whether Lopez must honor the order or gets to choose another opponent while keeping the title.
Even a promise that the Teofimo-Ryan Garcia winner must fight Catterall offers little protection. A lucrative immediate rematch could push him aside again. And if the WBA finally enforces its order, the winner could simply vacate and keep the WBC belt. Catterall would be left without the fight or any compensation for waiting—the same position another promise was supposed to prevent.
