WBA order Teofimo Lopez vs Jack Catterall

Teofimo Lopez vs Jack Catterall

The WBA has officially ordered Teofimo Lopez (23-2, 13 KOs) to defend his WBA (Super) welterweight championship against the WBA world champion Jack Catterall (33-2, 14 KOs) in a title consolidation bout.

The 147-pounders have until October 22 to reach an agreement or purse bids will be called.

Briton Catterall, 33, has won three title fights in a row - IBF Inter-Continental, WBO Global and WBA Regular world welterweight titles.

Aside from his controversial split decision defeat to Josh Taylor during their 2022 undisputed super-lightweight clash, which he avenged two years later, "El Gato" has only lost to Arnold Barboza Jr in a fantastic shootout in 2025, which also ended via SD.

Brooklyn's Lopez, 29, became a three-weight world champion in his last fight - a mixed decision victory over Rolly Romero in August.

The British southpaw would make for an attractive maiden opponent, especially as they would meet as two world champions, coming together to decide who is the best in the WBA 147lbs rankings.

Catterall is very popular in the UK, as is Lopez in the U.S., and they have both defeated a shared opponent in Josh Taylor.

The oldest governing body in boxing released the following statement today:

The World Boxing Association (WBA) Championship Committee has ordered a mandatory bout between WBA Welterweight Super Champion Teófimo López and Jack Catterall, the organization’s welterweight champion.

The decision stems from the conditions established by the Championship Committee when Rolando “Rolly” Romero was elevated to WBA Super Champion. At that time, it was determined that the winner of the WBA World Title bout between Shakhram Giyasov and Jack Catterall would subsequently face Romero, who would be permitted to make one optional defense during that period.

On August 22, 2026, Teófimo López defeated Romero by majority decision to become the WBA Super Champion. López therefore succeeded Romero as champion and assumed the obligations previously established by the Championship Committee.

As a result, the WBA has ordered the bout between López and Catterall.

The WBA has established a 30-day negotiation period, beginning on September 22, 2026, and concluding at the close of business, Eastern Time, on October 22, 2026.

If the parties fail to reach an agreement within the established period, or if either party notifies the WBA of its decision to discontinue negotiations, the Championship Committee may, with the approval of the WBA President, order a purse bid in accordance with the organization’s rules and regulations.