THE February 15 clash between Jack Catterall and Arnold Barboza Jr could have even more at stake.
Matchroom’s main event at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester was already set as a WBO final eliminator but the winner may have the chance to walk out with more than that.
WBO President Gustavo Olivieri announced today on social media platform X that the super lightweight bout will be recommended as an Interim title fight to the WBO Championship Committee. Either Catterall or Barboza would then become the mandatory challenger for the world title currently held by Teofimo Lopez, 21-1 (13 KOs).
It is the current uncertainty over Lopez’s career which brought about today’s decision by Olivieri which will be welcomed by Catterall, 30-1 (13 KOs), and Barboza, 31-0 (11 KOs). Lopez, who won the title from Catterall’s arch-rival Josh Taylor in June 2023 with a masterful display, has failed to hit those heights since then in his wins over Jamaine Ortiz and Steve Claggett.
His promoter Top Rank looked set to match the colourful New Yorker with former IBF titlist Subriel Matias on March 15 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Tuesday was deadline day, however, for the fight to be agreed. Lopez said on X he will be fighting this year and declared he had “unfinished business” with Top Rank.
Catterall will now hope that 2025 will finally be the year he lands a second world title shot after the huge controversy over his first attempt against Taylor which ended in a split decision win for the Scot.
Nearly three years on Catterall has bounced back with wins over Darragh Foley, Jorge Linares, Taylor and Regis Prograis which have put his career in good health. Barboza, however, will come to Manchester full of confidence having comfortably beat former world champion Jose Carlos Ramirez in Riyadh two months ago.
