Two-weight world champion Teofimo Lopez has been ordered to defend his WBO World Tremendous-Light-weight Title in opposition to the Jack Catterall vs Arnold Barboza Jr winner.
Lopez has been ordered to defend his 140-pound world title belt inside 180 days of the Catterall vs Barboza Jr contest on February 15.
Teofimo Lopez Ordered To Combat Catterall vs Barboza Jr Winner
Two-weight world champion Teofimo Lopez has been ordered by the World Boxing Group (WBO) to defend his WBO World Tremendous-Light-weight Title in opposition to the winner of Jack Catterall vs Arnold Barboza Jr.
Lopez hasn’t fought since June 2024 when he beat Steve Claggett considerably underwhelmingly. Now, the WBO are ordering their 140-pound champion to defend his belt in opposition to the Catterall vs Barboza Jr, who struggle on February 15.
‘The Takeover’ is being instructed he should both defend his belt in opposition to the winner of that bout on February 15 from the Co-Op Dwell Enviornment in Manchester, England, or else vacate his title and transfer up in weight.
There was rumors that Lopez days at 140-pounds might be finished, with a transfer to welterweight probably on the playing cards. Nevertheless, that is mere hypothesis and nothing has been confirmed both method.
No matter Lopez does along with his WBO belt can be indicator of what his future seems like. A spring showdown with Jack Catterall, maybe in Saudi Arabia and even England, could be an outstanding struggle.
Lopez would possible be a favourite with the perfect on-line US sportsbooks to beat ‘El Gato’, in addition to Barboza Jr.
Lopez Should Defend WBO Belt Inside 180 Days Of February 15
After being ordered to defend his WBO World Tremendous-Light-weight Title in opposition to the Jack Catterall vs Arnold Barboza Jr winner, Teofimo Lopez has 180 days to place his belt on the road and defend it or else lose it utterly.
The WBO have revealed that Lopez should both defend his world title inside 180 days of February 15, as soon as we all know the winner of the Catterall vs Barboza Jr bout, or else vacate his title solely.
It stays to be seen what alternative ‘The Takeover’ will make. If he decides to stay at 140-pounds and defend it in opposition to both Catterall or Barboza, he would go right into a struggle in opposition to them each as the favourite with the perfect offshore betting websites.
WBO President Gustavo Olivieri posted a cryptic message on social media, indicating that the two-weight world champion should defend his belt or he’ll lose it:
“Lopez should discharge his necessary obligation in opposition to the winner of Catterall-Barboza inside 180 days after their bout to terminate interim standing and guarantee a single WBO junior-welterweight champion,” the sanctioning physique’s president stated..
You’ll want to take a look at the varied boxing betting presents and free guess offers throughout the SportsLens website forward of Teofimo Lopez’s subsequent struggle.