Jack Catterall refuses to move out of Teofimo Lopez’s way, rejecting any payment to surrender his place in the WBA welterweight title queue as their October 22 negotiation deadline arrives.
His message leaves little room for bargaining. Catterall wants the fight he was promised, while Lopez seeks 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 has requested an exception from the WBA to pursue Garcia. Catterall can refuse to cooperate, but the sanctioning body still controls whether its order produces 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 little-known Nikita Zon on October 31 instead. The organization has stated that it did not approve that matchup and is reviewing the situation. Bek is still waiting for his ordered opportunity.
Issuing 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 Bek 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 payday, Catterall shouldn’t have to put his career on hold to accommodate him.
Catterall won’t move. Now the WBA needs to decide whether Lopez must honor the order or gets to choose another opponent while keeping the title.
Even a promise that the Teofimo-Ryan 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.
