Hearn: WBA Won't Let Teofimo Lopez Dodge Catterall

Eddie Hearn expects the WBA to reject Teofimo Lopez's bid to skip his mandatory defense against Jack Catterall in favor of a unification fight with Ryan Garcia. Hearn says Matchroom has received repeated written assurances from the sanctioning body that the Catterall fight must happen, and he's confident the WBA will deny Lopez's petition rather than let him chase the bigger payday.

"Teofimo has pushed back and said, 'We don't think we should have to fight Jack Catterall. We'd like to try and make another fight,'" Hearn told iFL TV. "Basically, the WBA are going to say no because we've had multiple dozens of assurances in writing through the resolution."

What The WBA Deadline Actually Means

The WBA ordered the Lopez-Catterall fight on September 22 and gave both camps until October 22 to work out a deal. That date is a negotiation deadline, not a guaranteed ruling day on Lopez's request to bypass Catterall. If the sides can't reach terms, the situation could move toward purse bids, though that path depends entirely on how the WBA chooses to handle the pending petition. Hearn's confidence rests on what he describes as ironclad written guarantees that the Catterall fight is the mandated next step, which is why he keeps framing this as a binary choice for Lopez: fight Catterall or vacate the belt.

"Teofimo Lopez will have the decision to fight Jack Catterall or vacate the belt," Hearn said. He acknowledged the obvious money angle pulling Lopez toward Ryan Garcia instead. "I get it. It's not a fight that pays you as much money as Ryan Garcia, but it's a good fight that pays you a lot of money," Hearn said. "Do as champions should do and make the fight."

Betting Angle

If Lopez vacates rather than face Catterall, it reshapes the market on both potential fights before either gets made. A Lopez-Garcia fight without the WBA strap on the line loses leverage for Lopez at the negotiating table, and Hearn's point about purse splits and promotional billing matters here: Garcia would walk in as the house fighter with a vacant-title opponent, which typically widens the line in the champion-less side's disfavor compared to a true unification bout. Books and bettors also tend to discount fighters perceived as having ducked a live mandatory, and Catterall's style, pressure, volume, awkward angles, the same traits that have given Shakur Stevenson trouble, is not an easy stylistic matchup for Lopez regardless of the politics. A Catterall fight, if it happens, likely opens with Lopez favored but not by a wide margin given Catterall's amateur pedigree and durability. Until the WBA actually rules on the petition, any line on either fight should be read as provisional.

Right now Catterall is stuck waiting on a decision that isn't his to make. Enforcing the mandatory gives him clarity, but even a WBA rejection of Lopez's petition doesn't guarantee Catterall gets the fight, since Lopez retains the option to walk away from the belt entirely and still chase Garcia. That outcome would leave Catterall with a vacant title and no signature opponent, while Lopez enters the Garcia fight already labeled by fans as someone who sidestepped a mandatory challenger.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Eddie Hearn think the WBA will reject Teofimo Lopez's appeal?

Eddie Hearn says Matchroom has received repeated written assurances from the WBA that Teofimo Lopez's mandatory defense against Jack Catterall must be enforced, which is why he expects the sanctioning body to deny Lopez's request to instead fight Ryan Garcia.

What happens if Teofimo Lopez refuses to fight Jack Catterall?

Eddie Hearn says Teofimo Lopez would have to vacate his WBA title if he refuses to face mandatory challenger Jack Catterall, since Hearn believes the WBA will not approve an alternate fight against Ryan Garcia.

What is the WBA deadline in the Teofimo Lopez and Jack Catterall situation?

The WBA ordered the Teofimo Lopez vs. Jack Catterall fight on September 22 and set October 22 as the deadline for the sides to negotiate terms, though that date does not guarantee a ruling on Lopez's request to fight Ryan Garcia instead.