Hearn Says WBA Will Reject Teofimo Lopez Appeal, Force Catterall Fight

Eddie Hearn is confident Teofimo Lopez will not wriggle out of his WBA mandatory against Jack Catterall. The Matchroom promoter told Boxing News 24 that his team holds "multiple dozens of assurances in writing" from the sanctioning body, and that Lopez's appeal to skip the Catterall fight is heading for rejection.

The WBA ordered Lopez to face Catterall on September 22 and gave both sides until October 22 to negotiate terms. Lopez's camp wants an exception to chase a unification bout with Ryan Garcia instead, per Hearn, with Lopez's team arguing they should not have to face Catterall at all.

Hearn was blunt about the outcome. "He will have the decision to fight Jack Catterall or vacate the belt," he said. He acknowledged the Garcia fight pays more but urged Lopez to "make the fight" the way a champion should.

If Lopez refuses, vacating would mean giving up his WBA welterweight title and the leverage that comes with it. Without a belt, his negotiating position in a Garcia fight weakens: he loses control over purse splits, venue selection and event terms.

Catterall, meanwhile, remains in limbo. The British southpaw has been the mandatory challenger for months and is waiting for the WBA to enforce its own rules.

The October 22 deadline does not guarantee a ruling that day, but Hearn's public confidence suggests Matchroom believes the outcome is already decided. Lopez faces a simple choice: defend the belt or walk away from it.