Promoter Eddie Hearn says he hasn’t had a “deep conversation” about a unification fight between his fighter IBF light welterweight champion Richardson Hitchins and WBO champ Teofimo Lopez. Hearn says he’s up for making that fight if the “deal” is right.

If Teofimo (21-1, 13 KOs) doesn’t fight Hitchins or one of the other 140-lb champions in a unification, then he must face the winner of the Jack Catterall vs. Arnold Barboza Jr. fight this Saturday. Those two are battling for the WBO interim title.

Catterall-Barboza Implications

The only other option for Teo if he doesn’t fight a unification or defend against the Catterall-Barboza Jr. winner is to give up his WBO title. That means the winner of this fight will be elevated to champion status, and that’s what Hearn suspects will happen.

“We keep seeing talks of Teofimo and Richardson Hitchins. Obviously, Richardson is with us, and I’m yet to have a deep conversation about that fight,” said Eddie Hearn to iFL TV about the unification clash between IBF light welterweight champion Richardson Hitchins and WBO champ Teofimo Lopez.

“We’re well up for it. It’s a great fight. At the same time, that deal has got to be done. Richardson has options. He just won a world title. Do you want to jump into that fight now? If the deal is right, absolutely. If he [Lopez] doesn’t fight Richardson Hitchins or doesn’t get a unification, he won’t be allowed to fight anyone else [if he wants to keep his WBO 140-lb title.] He’ll have to fight the winner of this fight [Jack Catterall vs. Arnold Barboza Jr].

“If he fights Richardson, I think Richardson win,” said Hearn about his belief that Hitchins will beat Teofimo. “If he didn’t, I think Teo will move up and fight Boots. I think the winner of this fight [Catterall-Barboza Jr.], there’s a very good chance could just automatically become world champion. You never really want that. This is a fight that is worthy of the world championship. It’s for the interim [WBO]. I think the winner of this fight is just going to be massive fights in the division.”

Teofimo will NOT fight the winner of this Saturday’s fight between #1 WBO Arnold Barboza Jr. and #2 Jack Catterall.

So, the three options for Teofimo are as follows:

1. Richardson Hitchins – unification at 140
2. Step aside deal for Catterall-Barboza Jr. winner
3. Vacate WBO belt

Teofimo isn’t going to take a risky fight for low money against Catterall or Barboza Jr. because those would be difficult matches and not PPV-worthy.