A very interesting junior welterweight bout is being negotiated between undefeated Arnold Barboza Jr. and Jack Caterall. The WBO has ordered the two to fight in an eliminator, and while no deal has yet been reached, the boxers' reprepsentatives seem to be working on it in earnest. WBO president Gustavo Oliveri tweeted "Golden Boy Boxing [Barboza's promoter] and Matchroom Boxing [Caterall's promoter]  jointly requested an extension for the negotiations deadline. The teams have until December 27th to reach a deal or purse bids will be ordered." 

 

Barboza tweeted, "No one is ducking you Jack, there is literally nothing to be scared of. I would have signed my end already as well if we were fighting in the United States and everything was in my favor. We are negotiating." Both men performed well in their last fight. Barboza (31-0) defeated former champion Jose Carlos Ramirez in November, while Caterall (30-1 and arguably an uncrowned champion based on the bad decision he got against then-champion Josh Taylor) defeated former champion Regis Prograis in October.