Teofimo Lopez may have just found out his next opponent.
He is the reigning WBO super-lightweight champion, but hasn’t fought since defending his belt with a unanimous decision win against Steve Claggett in June.
It looked like he would return in March for a clash against former world champion and knockout artist Subriel Matias, but negotiations broke down and the bout won’t be happening.
Lopez has been very vocal on social media about his issues with his promoters Top Rank as he goes in search of his next fight, but it may be about to be taken out of his own hands after WBO president Gustavo Olivieri announced a big update on social media.
“In light of the uncertainty regarding Teofimo Lopez’s career, it is in the best interest of boxing & the 140 lbs division, recommending to #WBO Championship Cmte. that Barboza/Catterall be sanctioned for the Interim title & mandatory subject to specific conditions & time frame to fight Lopez to terminate the interim champion status and have only 1 world champion in the 140 lbs. The show must go on.”
Jack Catterall faces Arnold Barboza Jr on February 15 at Co-Op Live in Manchester, with a big incentive now added for the winner of the fight. While no set timeline has been announced yet, it is expected that the WBO would want a fight against Lopez to happen over the summer.
Lopez could still choose to vacate the belt and face someone else, with former undisputed lightweight champion Devin Haney revealing he would be open to the fight under one condition.
