Jack Catterall headed to Mayweather gym, hoping to fight Maurice Hooker in July

Jack Catterall, who is ranked the No. 1 contender at 140 pounds by the WBO, is hoping to face titleholder Maurice Hooker in July, and is headed to Las Vegas in search of top-level sparring.

“I’ve spoken to Hooker on social media and he seems keen to fight me so I’m really hoping there are successful negotiations and we get it on in July,” Catterall said. “I’ve been waiting at the front of the queue for a shot at this world title for a long time now and I feel like I can reach out and touch it now. The next time I step in the ring under the lights, it could well be fighting for a world title.

“Hooker seems like a man who won’t duck a challenge. Nobody welcomes a mandatory challenger — someone who’s forced their way into the position with performances — but I believe he wants to fight the best.”

Hooker (26-0-3, 17 KO) has recently said he plans to fight in July, and also said he wants to face Catterall (24-0, 13 KO) by the end of 2019, either in the States or United Kingdom, where he won the belt in 2018 against Terry Flanagan. He said he feels Catterall is “not on his level.”

But all of those plans could be put aside at the moment, because there is also talk of Hooker facing WBC titleholder Jose Ramirez in a unification bout.

Catterall, who last fought on April 27 in a pure tune-up bout, is going over to Las Vegas and looking to get some work in either way.

“I’m going over there for a few reasons and one of them is to check out who’s sparring down at the Mayweather gym,” he said. “If there’s anyone up to the challenge, I’ll jump in.”