After impressively beating Shakhram Giyasov to win the WBA's secondary welterweight title in May, Catterall hoped the sanctioning body would order ‘Super’ champion Romero to make an immediate, mandatory defense of his 147-pound belt.

Instead, the 30-year-old has been allowed to move ahead with a fight against former two-division champion Lopez at Las Vegas' T-Mobile Arena on August 22.

Catterall has always been easily avoided and had to fight and wait for every opportunity in previous years.

Winning the WBA’s secondary title ensures that The Ring’s No. 3 welterweight has a say in what happens politically. The way he went about beating the previously undefeated, dangerous Giyasov earned the British southpaw a great deal of respect from his peers and boxing insiders while taking his profile to a whole new level.

Rather than being an afterthought, Catterall will be in Las Vegas when the pair fight with the winner being given a hard date to agree terms to defend against him.

“I'm working for DAZN on August 22. I think I'm doing something over there in Vegas for their fight. They’ve got up until November 19 to make it. There can't be a unification. If it gets to November 19, the belt is mine,” Catterall (33-2, 14 KOs) told The Ring before giving his ideal timeline.

“They’re fighting six weeks today. A cool off period of two weeks and then a certain timeframe to do a deal with the winner.

“As far as I stand, I'm training. I’ve got a little holiday booked then I'll be back, I'll be preparing. I'll have a little visit over there, go and do some sparring in Vegas - John [Gillies, his trainer] is going to come - come back and then hopefully, we know who's in a position to make the deal.”

After beating Giyasov, Catterall didn’t embark on an extended lap of honor, vanish from the gym and return three or four weight divisions heavier.

He was back training at the 4 Corners Gym in Liverpool on the Wednesday after the fight and was hoping to either roll directly into a Romero fight or stay busy against a top contender.

Time has ticked on and Catterall will now have to wait.

“I say it to everybody, I was born in the wrong era because I would fight every month,” he said.

“I understand where the sport is. It’s not like other disciplines where you can have a couple of losses and come back. Everybody’s too precious about money, who and when they're fighting.

“I won't fight now until November which is unfortunate because I asked Sam [Jones, his manager] could we still get a fight? Could we get a Jose Ramirez or somebody? It's out the window now so I'll look after myself and stay ready for the winner of that fight.”

Romero and Lopez are both capable of brilliance but are also prone to bouts of inconsistency.

Romero (17-2, 13 KOs), seemed set for lift off after beating Ryan Garcia in May 2025 but a series of failed negotiations have prevented him from capitalizing on the career-best win.

On his day, Lopez (22-2, 13 KOs) can be one of the world's best but will make his first appearance since Shakur Stevenson brilliantly disarmed and outboxed him at Madison Square Garden in January.

That loss persuaded him to try his luck at 147 pounds. It is that air of unpredictability that makes the fight such an interesting one on paper and so difficult to break down.

“I think they’re both them characters aren’t they? They’re hot and cold,” Catterall said.

"If I had to bet, I would put a bet on Teo but, then again, like we've seen before he can be underwhelming. To be fair, I’m surprised sometimes by Rolly so it's a good fight in that respect but I do think Teo would win."