(December 22nd) Chorley, Lancashire, UK’s, Jack “El Gato” Catterall and Los Angele, Calofornia's Arnold Barboza Jr. are set to face each other in a WBO Super-Lightweight World Title eliminator on Saturday, February 15th, 2025, live worldwide on DAZN from Co-op Live Arena, Manchester, England.

The WBO officially ordered this eliminator in late November 2024, giving both parties 20 days to reach an agreement before the bout would go to purse bids with the winner of this bout will become the mandatory challenger for the WBO title currently held by Teofimo Lopez.

Negotiations between Matchroom Boxing, representing Catterall, and Golden Boy Promotions, representing Barboza, are nearing completion. Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing has indicated that the fight is "very close" to being finalized.

Chorley’s Catterall, 30-1, 13Ko's floored Regis Prograis twice in the ninth round of their highly anticipated showdown in October on route to decisioning the former two-time Super-Lightweight World Champion to claim the WBO International crown.

That win capped a memorable 2024 for ‘El Gato’, who earlier in the year avenged the sole loss of his career against bitter rival Josh Taylor in Leeds, and a win over Barboza Jr in February will see the 31-year-old southpaw secure another shot at world honours.

California’s, Barboza Jr. , 31-0, 11Ko's, a former WBO International and Intercontinental 140lbs Champion, outpointed Jose Carlos Ramirez over ten rounds last time out on the undercard of Gilberto Ramirez’s Unified WBA and WBO Cruiserweight World Title triumph over Chris Billam-Smith in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The 33-year-old, currently ranked at number one with the WBO, is yet to sample defeat since joining the professional ranks back in June 2013, and the Los Angeles resident is highly motivated to set up an all-American World Title clash with his compatriot Teofimo Lopez.

Venue: Co-op Live Arena, Manchester, Lancashire, United Kingdom

Promoter: Eddie Hearn - Matchroom Boxing, Oscar De La Hoya – Golden Boy Promotions

Matchmaker: Tom Dallas

Media: DAZN

“I’m looking forward to fighting back in Manchester,” said Jack Catterall. “It was an unbelievable experience opening big time boxing at Co-op Live back in October. I’m looking to do it bigger and better on February 15. I’ve got a great fight in Barboza Jr. I’m glad he finally found his pen. I’m not overlooking him, but I’m ready to smash him to pieces to cement my spot for the WBO World Title. I’m geared up for this one.”

"I want to express my gratitude for the opportunity to take my skills overseas and contribute to my team’s success," said Barboza Jr. "I’m truly excited to do what I do best and make it a meaningful win. To the fans, thank you for your trust and support—I’m looking forward for this!”

Matchroom Sport chairman Eddie Hearn believes this will be a defining night in Jack Catterall’s career. He said: “This is absolutely huge. It is a Final Eliminator for the WBO World Title – and, hopefully, it could even be for the World Title if Teofimo Lopez gets out of the way. Jack should already be an undisputed World Champion. And there is no better way than to prove that he has earned his place at the very top by beating Arnold Barboza Jr in what is a fantastic fight in 140lbs division."

Oscar De La Hoya, Golden Boy Chairman and CEO, said: “Arnold Barboza Jr has been the gatekeeper for so long and I feel so happy for him that he is finally getting a shot that he deserves – and, hopefully, for the World Title if Teofimo Lopez moves up a weight. It will be a great fight. I think Jack Catterall is a terrific fighter. It’s a pick-‘em fight and let’s see who wins."

Alfie Sharman, DAZN VP Marketing, added: “We are incredibly excited to be bringing this fight night exclusively to DAZN subscribers for what is a huge premium event in the UK. Jack Catterall enjoyed a stellar 2024 with memorable wins against Josh Taylor and Regis Prograis. Now he must come through this final eliminator in his quest to land a world title shot – and it doesn’t get any bigger, or any more difficult, against the brilliant and dangerous Arnold Barboza Jr, who will be out to cause a huge upset away from home and climb up the ladder himself."

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Tickets

CO-OP PRESALE: 10:00 DEC. 27th, 2024

GENERAL SALE: 15:00 DEC. 28th, 2024

Golden Boy Promotions was established in 2002 by current Chairman and CEO Oscar De La Hoya, an International Hall of Famer and a 10-time World Champion in six divisions. Golden Boy is the first Latino-owned boxing promotions company with a world-renowned reputation in organizing the largest and highest grossing events in the history of the sport.

With more than two-decades as an industry leader and a lengthy roster of past, current and future world champions, Golden Boy will continue to leave an indelible mark in sports history.

Los Angeles-based Golden Boy Promotions was established in 2002 by 10-time world champion in six divisions Oscar De La Hoya, the first Hispanic to own a national boxing promotional company.

Golden Boy Promotions is one of boxing’s most active and respected promoters, presenting shows in packed venues around the world.

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About Matchroom Boxing

After the success of snooker in the 1980s, Matchroom Sport moved into boxing with two small hall shows followed by Frank Bruno v Joe Bugner at Tottenham Hotspur’s ground – the biggest boxing event of 1987. That launched the company into the boxing big-time, a position it has maintained ever since.

Through the 1990s Matchroom Sport’s boxing roster featured many of the biggest names in the sport including Lennox Lewis, Nigel Benn, Chris Eubank, Steve Collins and Naseem Hamed, all in world title fights and it continues to work with some of the biggest names in UK boxing including Audley Harrison, the 2000 Olympic Super-Heavyweight gold medalist.

Over the years, Matchroom Sport has built up long-standing relationships with broadcasters around the world and with the advent of the Prizefighter phenomenon, the company’s boxing division has never been in a stronger position.

From fantastic six round scraps between the sport’s journeymen, up to multi-million-dollar World Championship contests featuring the above fighters, the Pro Box series has it all. Each show is packed with the very best in boxing action in a series that encompasses almost 25 years of Matchroom Sport’s commitment to bringing the highest quality to the global television market.