Romero-Lopez Winner Given November 19 Deadline For Catterall Deal

Jack Catterall says the winner of Rolando “Rolly” Romero’s August 22 fight with Teofimo Lopez will have until November 19 to agree to a WBA welterweight title fight with him. Catterall will be in Las Vegas for the bout, working with DAZN, as he waits for his mandated opportunity.

The WBA had previously ruled that Romero must face the winner of Catterall’s fight with Shakhram Giyasov within 180 days. Catterall secured that position by beating the previously unbeaten Giyasov on May 23 at the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt, winning a unanimous decision for the WBA’s secondary welterweight title and strengthening his hand in a division where Romero holds the WBA “Super” title.

Rather than receiving an immediate shot at Romero, Catterall has had to wait while Romero moves into a fight with Lopez. The Chorley southpaw, told The Ring’s John Evans that the WBA’s timetable now gives the Romero-Lopez winner a firm deadline to make a deal with him.

“I’m working for DAZN on August 22. I think I’m doing something over there in Vegas for their fight. They’ve got up until November 19 to make it. There can’t be a unification. If it gets to November 19, the belt is mine,” Catterall told The Ring before outlining how he expects the process to unfold.

“They’re fighting six weeks today. A cool off period of two weeks and then a certain timeframe to do a deal with the winner.

“As far as I stand, I’m training. I’ve got a little holiday booked then I’ll be back, I’ll be preparing. I’ll have a little visit over there, go and do some sparring in Vegas.”

Catterall stays ready

Catterall had hoped to move quickly after the Giyasov win, either straight into a Romero fight or into another meaningful contest while the mandatory situation developed. He was back in the gym in Liverpool within days of the victory, but the timing of Romero-Lopez means he is now preparing for a longer wait rather than a stay-busy fight.

“I say it to everybody, I was born in the wrong era because I would fight every month,” he said.

“I understand where the sport is. It’s not like other disciplines where you can have a couple of losses and come back. Everybody’s too precious about money, who and when they’re fighting.

“I won’t fight now until November which is unfortunate because I asked Sam [Jones, his manager] could we still get a fight? Could we get a Jose Ramirez or somebody? It’s out the window now so I’ll look after myself and stay ready for the winner of that fight.”

The wait comes after Catterall rebuilt momentum from his split-decision defeat to Arnold Barboza Jr in February 2025. Since then, he has beaten Harlem Eubank by technical decision, stopped Ekow Essuman in the 11th round at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and then outpointed Giyasov to put himself directly into the Welterweight title picture.

Romero, who was elevated to full WBA welterweight champion in August 2025 after Jaron “Boots” Ennis vacated to move to 154lbs, is attempting to build on his win over Ryan Garcia in May 2025 after failed negotiations prevented him from immediately capitalising on that result. Lopez, meanwhile, is moving up to welterweight after being outboxed by Shakur Stevenson at Madison Square Garden in January.

Catterall sees uncertainty in Romero-Lopez

Catterall said the styles and temperaments of both men make the August 22 fight difficult to predict, though he leans towards Lopez despite the former unified lightweight champion’s uneven performances.

“I think they’re both them characters aren’t they? They’re hot and cold,” Catterall said.

“If I had to bet, I would put a bet on Teo but, then again, like we’ve seen before he can be underwhelming. To be fair, I’m surprised sometimes by Rolly so it’s a good fight in that respect but I do think Teo would win.”

For Catterall, the immediate task is to stay active in camp and be in position once Romero and Lopez produce a winner. The WBA deadline places pressure on the post-fight negotiations, with November 19 now the key date for whether Catterall receives his title fight or the sanctioning body acts on its order.