Jack Catterall has spent the last couple of weeks recuperating from his hard fought decision victory over Regis Prograis but the leading junior welterweight is ready to get back into the mix.

Catterall’s fight with Prograis was the first boxing event to take place at Manchester’s new Co-Op Live Arena and the 31-year-old’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, told BoxingScene that he is already planning on taking him back to the city. Catterall’s opponent will be confirmed in the coming weeks.

In the aftermath of the fight with Prograis, Catterall, 30-1 (13 KOs), and his team were united in their belief that he deserves a world title shot next and IBF champion, Liam Paro, 25-0 (15 KOs), was almost immediately singled out as the most likely target. The Australian has some pressing business of his own to attend to. Next week, he has a tricky looking title defence scheduled against unbeaten American, Richardson Hitchins, 18-0 (7 KOs).

This week, Catterall was given another route towards a title as the WBO ordered him to box Arnold Barboza Jnr , 31-0 (11 KOs), in a final eliminator for the belt currently held by Teofimo Lopez, who is reportedly considering a move up to welterweight.

Catterall told BoxingScene that rather than jumping into a decision, he will wait to see what happens between Paro and Hitchins.

“That’s next week so he’s not got a lot of time to wait,” Hearn said.

“We’re scheduling February in Manchester for Jack. I actually like the Barboza fight. Obviously, we’d rather have it for a world title – I think everybody would – but at the same time you don’t know what’s going to happen with Teofimo Lopez. That final eliminator could turn into an interim title. It could turn into a world title.

“But it’s a good option. The key is to try and get him a world title shot but if it all fails, Barboza for a final eliminator.”