American Teofimo Lopez became a three-weight world champion by taking Rolando Romero’s WBA ‘Super’ welterweight world title at the T-Mobile Arena on Saturday in Las Vegas.
Lopez, who has previously held world titles at lightweight and light-welterweight, secured a majority decision but declined to call out Briton Jack Catterall as his first defence.
The 29-year-old instead wants to fight the winner of the upcoming WBC title fight between holder Ryan Garcia and English challenger Conor Benn, or pursue another unification bout with Australia’s IBF champion Liam Paro.
“September 12th, right?” he said, referring to Garcia’s fight with Benn, which is scheduled to take place in the same Las Vegas ring.
“So, you got Ryan Garcia versus Conor Benn. That’s the next one. We’ll see what happens there. If Conor wins, it’s a great fight to take across the pond [the Atlantic ocean].
“I think I’d rather wait for Devin [Haney, WBO champion] at the end.
“So, it’ll either be Liam Paro next or the winner out of Ryan Garcia and Conor Benn.”
Chorley fighter Catterall holds the WBA ‘Regular’ belt, which makes him next in line to fight Lopez unless the WBA decides to overlook him in favour of a unification bout.
Catterall was quick to respond, posting on X:, external “Congratulations Teofimo Lopez but I will be taking that belt 100%. Let’s Gooo.”