Tim Bradley Predicts Teofimo Lopez Will Ditch WBA Belt to Chase Ryan Garcia
Tim Bradley expects Teofimo Lopez to vacate his WBA welterweight title rather than face mandatory challenger Jack Catterall.
Tim Bradley thinks Teofimo Lopez is going to dodge his mandatory and chase the money fight instead.
Bradley told Boxing News 24 that he expects Lopez to abandon his WBA welterweight title rather than face Jack Catterall, the mandatory challenger who has been waiting in the wings. "Hell yeah he gonna duck," Bradley said. "Jack Catterall fight is a hard fight for him."
The logic is simple. Catterall is a sharp southpaw counter-puncher whose jab and timing could catch Lopez reaching and off-balance in exchanges. It is the kind of fight that carries real risk with relatively modest reward. Ryan Garcia, on the other hand, brings a massive name, a massive payday, and arguably less danger at this stage.
The WBA has set an October 22 deadline for the two camps to reach a deal. If they cannot agree on terms, the sanctioning body can order a purse bid. But Bradley believes Lopez will simply walk away from the belt before it gets to that point.
Catterall has been on the wrong end of this kind of move before, famously denied his moment against Josh Taylor in their first fight. Another champion sidestepping him would be a brutal blow to a career built on being the best available opponent nobody wants to fight.
Lopez, meanwhile, has made it clear that the Garcia fight is the one he wants. Whether the WBA forces his hand or he drops the belt voluntarily, Bradley sees only one outcome.
This is the most predictable move in boxing right now. Teofimo has never been the guy who takes the hardest fight available when there is a bigger payday sitting right there. And honestly, I get it. Catterall is a nightmare matchup for him. That jab, the angles, the counter-punching. Lopez likes to come forward and exchange, and Catterall would make him pay for every inch.
But here is the thing: if you are a champion, you defend or you vacate. There is no in-between. Chasing Ryan Garcia while ducking your mandatory is not championship behavior. Garcia is a fun fight and it will sell, but it does not mean anything for the division.
Catterall deserves better. The man has been getting the runaround from champions for years. At some point the WBA needs to stop letting guys hold belts hostage while they shop for easier paydays. October 22 deadline or not, we all know how this ends.
