Chorley boxer won’t back away from Lopez fight as champion continues to delay

Jack Catterall and his promoter Eddie Hearn have stressed there is no way the Chorley boxer will forgo his 'mandatory' world title fight with Teofimo Lopez, after the deadline to arrange their WBA welterweight showdown passed last week.

The World Boxing Association gave its 'super' world champion Lopez a month to agree a date with the Lancastrian. The deadline was last Thursday and no announcement has been made.

It has been widely reported that American-Honduran Lopez has no desire to fight the 33-year-old Catterall and prefers a more lucrative unification bout with WBC champion Ryan Garcia.

When Catterall beat Shakhram Giyasov convincingly in Egypt in May, he earned the WBA's 'regular' world title and the right to fight for its ultimate crown.

The 'super' champion at that time was Rolando Romero, who lost the title to Lopez in Las Vegas in August. The WBA clarified that Romero's obligation to fight Catterall then passed to Lopez.

Matchroom promoter Hearn told BoxingScene: "As a champion, you have an obligation to fight your mandatory challengers. Jack Catterall, having beat Giyasov, was written in a resolution in black and white, clear as day and we've had it confirmed dozens of times by the WBA. There is absolutely no movement.

"He was supposed to fight Rolly Romero. They allowed the fight between Romero and Lopez on the condition the winner must fight Jack Catterall immediately and that is what is happening.”

All talk of a pay-off for Catterall to waive his right to the title fight has been dismissed.

Catterall posted on social media last week: "There isn’t an amount of money you can give me to step aside, end of discussion. I want what I deserve, I want what I signed up for and I want to become a world champion

“My career is currently on hold but in the next week or so it will be resolved and I promise you all I’ll fight whoever the fans want me to fight."

Hearn added: “Teofimo against Garcia ain't even that big a fight and Garcia has come out now saying he's fighting Floyd Mayweather.

“So stop running around, just fight your mandatory. Jack Catterall will be fighting for the world championship in his next fight and it will be with the WBA.”

The WBA committee must now decide what to do next after its deadline was not honoured. The body has stated it could open up Catterall-Lopez to purse bids. Alternatively, the 29-year-old Lopez could be stripped of his title.