Amid Teofimo Lopez drama, WBO poised to make Barboza-Catterall interim title fight

World Boxing Organization President Gustavo Oliveiri said Wednesday he’s “seriously considering” designating the February 15 bout between top 140-pound contenders Jack Catterall and Arnold Barboza a fight for the division’s interim championship.

In light of WBO champion Teofimo Lopez’s inability to strike a deal with his promoter Top Rank for a March 15 title defense against former champion Subriel Matias, Olivieri said he wants to keep the division “alive,” and will empower the interim champion to seek a title shot in victory.

“Because of this situation with Lopez and Top Rank, it looks like he’ll either move up in weight or be in a legal battle,” Olivieri told BoxingScene. “To keep the division moving and active, I’m seriously considering making Barboza-Catterall for the interim belt, with the winner ordered to fight Teofimo next.”

If Lopez were to balk at that requirement, he’d be stripped of his belt with the Barboza-Catterall winner becoming full champion.

Olivieri said he has not made a final determination on his action yet because it requires approval by the WBO board.

“But it’s certainly under consideration,” Olivieri said.

Lopez, 21-1 (13 KOs), hasn’t fought since June, and his two 2024 victories by decision over lesser-knowns Steve Claggett and Jamaine Ortiz were uninspired showings as Claggett entered with seven losses.

Barboza 31-0 (11 KOs), currently training for the Catterall bout that will be staged in Manchester, England, said it would “be an honor to finally have that opportunity,” to fight for a belt.

A former Top Rank fighter who performed beneath the more prominent Lopez, Barboza, 33, is coming off a November 15 victory over former unified 140-pound champion Jose Ramirez in Saudi Arabia.

Catterall 30-1 (13 KOs) defeated former undisputed 140-pound champion Josh Taylor in May, and followed that with an October unanimous-decision triumph over former champion Regis Prograis.

“I’m happy if the WBO does this. Our fight is No. 1 versus No. 2, the best versus the best with me and Jack,” Barboza said. “That’s how it should be. Teofimo took on a lot of other guys, the guy with seven losses. 

“Me and Jack is the way it should be. The winner gets the title.”

Lance Pugmire is BoxingScene’s senior U.S. writer and an assistant producer for ProBox TV. Pugmire has covered boxing since the early 2000s, first at the Los Angeles Times and then at The Athletic and USA Today. He won the Boxing Writers’ Association of America’s Nat Fleischer Award in 2022 for career excellence.