Tim Bradley Expects Teofimo Lopez To Abandon Title

Former world champion Tim Bradley expects Teofimo Lopez to vacate his WBA welterweight title rather than defend it against mandatory challenger Jack Catterall. Speaking on YouTube, Bradley stated that Lopez would likely avoid Catterall due to the difficult matchup presented by the challenger's southpaw stance, jab, and counterpunching abilities. Instead, Bradley anticipates Lopez will prioritize a more lucrative bout against Ryan Garcia.

The WBA officially ordered the bout between Lopez and Catterall on September 22, setting a negotiation deadline of October 22 before potentially sending the fight to a purse bid. Bradley believes Lopez will ultimately choose to pursue the higher-earning fight with Garcia rather than risk an upset defeat against Catterall.