There is a new top player in the 140-pound weight class, and his name is Arnold Barboza Jr.

Barboza scored a career-best win on the road Saturday in the United Kingdom, notching a split decision win against Jack Catterall for the WBO interim junior welterweight title. Barboza barely edged Catterall in the nip and tuck tilt with scores of 115-113 and 115-113. A third judge had it scored 115-113 for Catterall, as Barboza outlanded Catterall 89 to 71.

“I thought it was a great, tactical performance going into hostile territory,” Barboza promoter and Golden Boy chief Oscar De La Hoya told DAZN. “It wasn't an easy task. I was very surprised how close and tactical it was. I thought one of the fighters was going to make a big move and maybe knock somebody down. I believe that's what he needed but he squeezed out the decision. He's a world champion and made his dreams come true. And now, the sky's the limit.”

With the win, Barboza (32-0, 11 KOs) became the mandatory challenger to The Ring and WBO champion Teofimo Lopez Jr. (22-1, 13 KOs).

In recent days, Lopez has been tracking toward a June or July date as the headliner of a special Ring Magazine event at the Alcatraz Prison off the coast of San Francisco against a yet-to-be-determined opponent.

A bout between Lopez and Barboza never came to fruition when both fighters were signed to Top Rank in recent years.

“Now that Barboza has the interim world title, it makes things much easier,” said De La Hoya. “The machine behind him in Golden Boy will now be able to secure the world title for him against Teofimo. Look, Teofimo is a great world champion. He must stay active. He must fight, and next in line, it has to be Barboza. He cannot run. He cannot hide. Not that he has been doing that because he's a great fighter. I love Teo. But now it's time to fight Barboza.”