Catterall Options Assessed Ahead of World Title Bout
Jack Catterall is set to have a great Christmas. He dealt with business effectively on Saturday in Manchester. He’ll have made a lot of money, has a convincing win against a world-ranked opponent under his belt, and he’s put himself right in line for a world title shot.
As night’s works go, it was a great one.
Now though, the conversation naturally turns to ‘who next?’ There are a few good options out there for Catterall, so let’s take a look at who he could be in line to face…
Liam Paro – IBF Champion
This looks the most likely to me. Paro is a tough Aussie with an unblemished record. He’s held the IBF belt since beating Subriel Matias in his back yard in June 2024, and is due to defend the belt against Richardson Hitchens in December. It’s an easy fight to make for a couple of reasons – both fighters are promoted by Matchroom, and Catterall is the official challenger according to the IBF. If Paro wins the fight against Hitchens, the calls will get louder.
Devin Haney – WBC Champion in Recess
Haney bested Regis Prograis in December 2023, taking the WBC belt in the process. He was due to defend it against Ryan Garcia, but Garcia missed weight (making it a non-title fight) and subsequently failed a drug test, meaning the fight has gone down as a no-contest. Haney appears keen for the fight, but whether or not the WBC belt will be on the line is another matter, given his ‘champion in recess’ status.
Alberto Puello – WBC Champion
This is a fight I could see happening next, if Devin Haney isn’t reinstated as champion. Catterall is ranked #2 with the WBC, so would be an acceptable challenger for the belt. The stumbling block could be he’s expected to face Sandor Martin in December, which could delay the fight more. Should it happen I’d expect Catterall to win this fight, setting up a potential blockbuster with Haney.
Teofimo Lopez – WBO Champion
Eddie Hearn was quick to call out Teofimo Lopez in the post-fight press conference, stating “I would love to bring Teofimo Lopez to Manchester as well and give him a good arse kicking.” Whether or not this fight happens is another issue. Catterall is likely to want a domestic fight, and Lopez has never boxed outside of the US. He’s also got an ongoing legal dispute, as well as the threat of moving to 147. It’s probably an unlikely fight.
Jose Valenzuela – WBA Champion
This is the one fight that hasn’t really been called for. Catterall is only ranked at number 5 with the WBA, so it’s an unlikely bout. No disrespect to Valenzuela, but he’s not a name that’s going to get fight fans excited. He’s already got a couple of losses on his record, and there are bigger, more lucrative and ultimately, more interesting fights out there for Catterall.
Which One Would Catterall Prefer?
He’s said he’ll fight anyone, but having been burned by missed opportunities in the past, he’d probably prefer the certainty of a shot at the IBF belt. Both Paro and Matias are promoted by Matchroom, so the winner of their fight facing Catterall is a natural next step. It’s an easier fight to make, Catterall is ranked next in line and it’s an obvious move.
I’ll be surprised if he opts for the Lopez fight, and the WBC situation seems a little complicated at the moment. If I was Catterall, I’d wait out for the winner of the IBF title fight in December.
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