Teofimo Lopez’s management is exploring legal options that could allow the newly crowned WBA welterweight champion to pursue a unification fight instead of facing mandatory challenger Jack Catterall next.
Lopez won the WBA title with a majority-decision victory over Rolando Romero last weekend, becoming a three-division world champion. He has since expressed interest in fights with Devin Haney, Liam Paro or the winner of Ryan Garcia vs. Conor Benn.
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Catterall, however, is pushing for his own title opportunity after defeating Shakhram Giyasov by unanimous decision in May to claim the WBA “regular” belt. WBA president Gilberto Mendoza had indicated that Catterall would receive a shot at the full championship within 180 days of that fight.
Lopez’s manager Keith Connolly says neither he nor Lopez agreed contractually to face Catterall next. “I have my legal team, and Teo’s legal team, working on that right now,” Connolly told Ring Magazine. “We were never given a contract to sign, saying that we would fight Jack Catterall next.”
Connolly also argued that Lopez’s status as WBA “super” champion could give him greater flexibility to pursue a major unification before satisfying his mandatory obligation. The team plans to discuss the situation with the WBA as Lopez looks toward his next fight at 147 pounds.
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