Jack Catterall-Arnold Barboza ‘very close’, reveals Eddie Hearn

HAMBURG – Eddie Hearn is looking to start 2025 with two Matchroom promotions in January.

They will come before a likely fight on February 15 between Jack Catterall and Arnold Barboza in Manchester, in an eliminator for the WBO title held by Teofimo Lopez.

The promoter said that negotiations were nearly done for the fight.

“[It’s] very close,” Hearn told BoxingScene. “We’re negotiating with Golden Boy, for February in Manchester. Jack has agreed – we’re just trying to finalise with Golden Boy and hopefully it will be getting it over the line in the next couple of days.”

Hearn is looking for a big show in the UK and a smaller one before he gets to that, and it is likely Dalton Smith will fight Walid Ouizza in Nottingham on January 25. The smaller promotion will likely be in London.