Eddie Hearn says he’ll sue the WBA if it lets Teofimo Lopez keep his welterweight belt and fight Ryan Garcia ahead of mandatory challenger Jack Catterall. If the WBA holds Lopez to the order, he has a good reason to give up the belt. The power he showed against Rolly Romero in his welterweight debut gives him little reason to count on hurting Catterall.
“I would sue them immediately,” said Hearn on Inside the Ring when asked what he would do if the WBA ruled against him. Hearn promotes Catterall and argues the WBA had already promised his fighter a shot under a resolution that was in place before Lopez won the title.
Hearn has the WBA’s own written ruling to point to if it lets Teofimo Lopez fight Ryan Garcia and keep his welterweight belt. The WBA gave Jack Catterall a route to its top title with a 180-day deadline, then said Lopez inherited that obligation when he beat Rolly Romero. Hearn says he’ll sue if the WBA goes back on its decision.
The WBA allowed Romero one optional defense, which he used to fight Lopez. In its September order, the WBA expressly said Lopez took on Romero’s obligations when he won the title. The organization reaffirmed the mandatory on November 11 and gave the camps 10 days to agree on a fight date or propose another solution. An exception for Garcia would mean setting aside a specific commitment the WBA has now upheld twice.
The timing gives Hearn leverage. Mike Coppinger said on the show that Lopez’s team was trying to finalize a February 6 fight with Garcia. If the WBA cleared Lopez to bring its belt into that fight, Hearn could seek a court order blocking the WBA from sanctioning it as a unification while the dispute is heard. Even the prospect of that fight over the belt could complicate the promotion while the two sides are trying to close a deal.
Hearn expects Lopez to give up the title if the WBA holds him to the mandatory. It’s easy to see why. Lopez beat Romero in his welterweight debut, but his punches rarely discouraged him. If he can’t make Catterall respect his power, he could spend 12 rounds leading against a southpaw who can make him reach, catch him with the straight left, and get out before Lopez can follow up.
Lopez has the speed to win that fight. He’d still be risking the Garcia payday on his ability to win close rounds against a fighter who excels at making them close.
Catterall wants the Lopez fight. If Lopez gives up the belt to face Garcia for the WBC title, Hearn expects the WBA to elevate Catterall from its secondary champion and let him make a defense. Either outcome gives Catterall a way forward. The outcome Hearn is threatening to challenge is Lopez getting the bigger fight, keeping the belt, and leaving Catterall waiting again.
