“Devin was never going to fight me it was this all along,” Catterall posted on X. “I’ll be in vegas next week for Rolly Lopez and Im in line for the winner.”

The comment followed a warning from Catterall’s manager, Sam Jones, four days earlier. Jones questioned whether his fighter was being presented as an alternative opponent to give Haney better leverage in talks with Paro.

“What I hope isn’t the case is that Jack’s been used as a decoy so that Paro is scared into taking the fight for less money than he’s wanting,” Jones said on X. “All I can tell you is we’ve accepted the fight and the date and location so if the fight doesn’t happen it’s not on Jack.”

Haney has since provided a strong indication of where his interest lies. Responding to a social media image featuring the WBO and IBF belts, Haney declared, “Have the WBO.. I want the IBF.”

Paro holds the IBF title, leaving little mystery about Haney’s target.

His team had accepted the proposed fight, date and location, but the talks ultimately stalled. Jones suspected that keeping another opponent available allowed Haney’s team to apply financial pressure on Paro.

Attention now shifts back to the WBA. Catterall holds the WBA Regular welterweight title and plans to attend Rolando “Rolly” Romero’s August 22 defense against Teofimo Lopez in Las Vegas.

Rather than continue waiting on Haney, Catterall intends to pursue the Romero-Lopez winner.