Eddie Hearn has stated that he would love Jack Catterall to give Teofimo Lopez “a good a**e-kicking” following the former’s impressive victory over Regis Prograis.
Catterall teed up another chance at realising his world title dreams in 2025 by twice flooring two-time former world champion Prograis en route to a wide points win in a thrilling main event in Manchester on Saturday night.
Such a statement triumph capped a remarkable 11 months for ‘El Gato’, who has become one of British boxing’s top stars after beating Jorge Linares and then finally gaining long-awaited revenge in a rematch with arch-rival Josh Taylor back in May.
He had to wait an extra two months to face Prograis after injury forced the fight’s postponement, but he more than justified his growing hype with a commanding display in front of an adoring crowd in the first boxing event to be held at the new Co-op Live arena.
Catterall is now firmly in line for another world title chance in the New Year, having felt that he was robbed of undisputed status at super-lightweight after his hugely controversial defeat by Taylor in Glasgow in 2022.
His camp have been targeting Liam Paro - also promoted by Matchroom - if Australia’s IBF champion successfully comes through his first defence against Richardson Hitchins in Puerto Rico in December, while promoter Hearn believes that his charge should be first in the queue for a shot at Lopez - the two-weight world champion who successfully defended the WBO and Ring titles at 140 pounds that he claimed from Taylor last summer for the second time against Steve Claggett in Florida in June.
"This guy is probably the most underrated fighter in the world,” Hearn said of Catterall. “In 11 months he's beat Jorge Linares, Josh Taylor, now Regis Prograis. All in 11 months. This man needs a world title shot next.
“We have Liam Paro fighting Richardson Hitchins, December 7th in Puerto Rico. The winner of that fight - we want to put that [offer] straight forward to them to fight Jack Catterall next.
“For me, this WBO belt, he should be number one with the WBO. I would love to bring Teofimo Lopez to Manchester as well and give him a good a**e-kicking."
Catterall, meanwhile, appears to have his eyes firmly fixed on a shot at the IBF belt next after taking some well-deserved time off to recharge after a whirlwind year.
“We know that Liam Paro is fighting Hitchins in the first week of December,” he said. “We’re all under the same banner. The fight against Regis tonight, we knew it was going to be a risk.
“But that risk put me in a great position to call the shots. Hopefully we get a shot at the IBF early next year.”
