Champion now seeking ‘special permit’ to dodge Chorley boxer as promoter Hearn threatens legal action

The World Boxing Association has rejected welterweight champion Teofimo Lopez's appeal against fighting number one challenger Jack Catterall of Chorley.

However, Lopez continues to show no interest in this mandatory defence as he openly pursues a unification fight against WBC champion Ryan Garcia on February 6.

When Catterall, 33, became the WBA's 'regular' champion with his impressive points victory over Shakhram Giyasov in Egypt in May, he also won the right to fight for the 'super' world title, then held by Rolly Romero, within six months.

Romero lost that title to Lopez in Las Vegas in August and the WBA set a deadline of October 22 for the 29-year-old to finalise his first defence against Catterall.

Three weeks after that deadline passed, the WBA issued the following statement: "After reviewing the arguments and documents submitted by both parties, the WBA based its decision on Rule C.17 of its regulations, which grants the Presidency and the Championships Committee the authority to establish the criteria, conditions and requirements for the defense and retention of a Super Championship, including mandatory obligations.

"The resolution also clarifies that unification bouts with other sanctioning bodies may be considered through a special permit, as provided under Rule C.39. However, as of the date of this decision, Lopez's team had not submitted a formal request for special permission to pursue a unification bout.

"Consequently, the WBA reaffirmed that the Super Champion must fulfil his mandatory defence against the mandatory challenger, while acknowledging the need to establish a new timetable since the original deadlines have expired."

However, American-Honduran Lopez's team have claimed they did apply for a permit for a unification bout with Garcia on November 5.

Catterall's promoter Eddie Hearn told the Inside the Ring podcast he would “sue them immediately” if the WBA failed to enforce a Lopez-Catterall fight.

The Lancastrian boxer himself labelled Lopez's manoeuvring as "Pathetic" in a one-word social media post.

It has been reported that Garcia would be a far more lucrative opponent for Lopez, even if he had to surrender his WBA title in order to make the fight happen.

Should he do so, Catterall could be promoted to 'super' champion without lifting a glove.