Teofimo Lopez has been ordered to defend his WBA world title against Briton Jack Catterall.
Lopez became the WBA ‘super’ welterweight champion with a points win over Rolando Romero last month.
Catterall, 33, is Lopez’s mandatory challenger but the American has been campaigning to fight WBC champion Ryan Garcia in a unification bout instead.
The WBA has now announced they expect Lopez to fight Catterall next, and the two parties have until 22 October to reach an agreement or there will be a purse bid.
Catterall became the number one challenger and WBA ‘regular’ title-holder after beating Shakhram Giyasov in May.
He acknowledged the WBA’s ruling on X, saying: “Hi Teofimo Lopez.”
The Chorley native last fought for a world title in 2022 when he was controversially beaten by then undisputed light-welterweight champion Josh Taylor.
Lopez, a three-weight world champion, could withdraw from negotiations and relinquish his world title, which may lead to Catterall being upgraded to world champion.
Lopez attended the Garcia v Conor Benn fight week in Las Vegas earlier this month and was stopped from entering the ring after Garcia’s quick win.
Catterall has just two defeats on his record – to Taylor and American Arnold Barboza Jr – with 33 wins and 14 stoppages.
Lopez, 29, also has two losses during his career, a 2021 points loss to George Kambosos Jr and more recently a decision defeat by Shakur Stevenson in January.