Catterall challenges Romero to world super-fight
Chorley boxer Jack Catterall has called on world welterweight champion Rolando Romero not to keep him waiting for a shot at the WBA's ultimate title.
Catterall's hugely impressive victory over Shakhram Giyasov in Egypt last month earned him the division's 'regular' world title and guaranteed him a shot at the 'super' title, held by Cuban/American Romero.
The WBA has ordered Romero to defend against Catterall in the next six months, though the Lancastrian's promoter Eddie Hearn has called for the fight to take place within three.
The previously unbeaten Giyasov had also been a mandatory challenger for Romero's crown. However, the Ukrainian agreed to take on Catterall at the Pyramids of Giza rather than continue waiting for the 30-year-old Romero, who last fought over a year ago against Ryan Garcia.
Catterall's unanimous points win over Giyasov has left him in a hurry to get the Romero fight arranged.
He told The Ring magazine's 'Inside The Ring' programme: “From my understanding, Shakhram was chasing Rolly for quite some time. He didn’t want to fight him.
“But I made it quite clear to [manager] Sam Jones, to Eddie Hearn, that I don’t want to be sitting, waiting about.
“That’s why I chose to remove myself from that mandatory position in the WBO (as the top-ranked challenger for Devin Haney's title) to kind of go down this route.
“But listen, Rolly – love to get it on next, let’s do it. If not, vacate the title, do whatever you’ve got to do but we just want to carry on fighting, stay busy, fight all these top guys and be involved in some good fights.”
Catterall has made it clear he would also welcome fights against Haney or WBC champion Garcia