In a long day of work, the members of the Governing Board and Mauricio Sulaimán, president of the WBC, and the most important promoters defined the mandatory defenses of the champions, within the 58th Annual Convention of the World Boxing Council.
By Rodolfo Rosales S.
In a long day of work, the members of the Governing Board and Mauricio Sulaimán, president of the WBC, and the most important promoters defined the mandatory defenses of the champions, within the 58th Annual Convention of the World Boxing Council.
Division by division, the responsibilities of the monarchs of the organization were analyzed, after the agreement that due to the pandemic, the WBC will administer the world titles, with flexibility and common sense.
In heavyweight, the promoter Matchroom requested that for the fight on August 22 between the interim champion Dillian Whyte and Alexander Povetkin, the Diamond belt be delivered and it was accepted, in addition to the fact that the winner will be the official challenger of the winner of the fight between Tyson Fury and Deonyat Wilder.
At cruiserweight, champion Ilunga Makabu was granted an optional defense and two knockouts were ordered: Thabiso Mchunu vs. Olanrewaju Durodola and Alexei Papin vs. Ruslan Fayfer.
While at light heavyweight, Artur Beterbiev will defend his title against Fanlong Meng on September 25 in Russia. Jean Pascal is the mandatory challenger.
In the super middleweight category, David Benavidez will defend his title this Saturday, August 15, against Roamer Angulo, the winner will face the mandatory challenger Avni Yildirim.
In middleweight Saúl Álvarez, franchise champion, will not fight on September 12. Middleweight champion Jermall Charlo will defend against Sergiy Derevyanchenko on September 26.
The super welterweight champion, Jermell Charlo, will expose his scepter against Jeison Rosario on September 26, in a unification fight, the winner must make the mandatory defense of the IBF.
Errol Spence Jr., will expose the welter belt against Danny Garcia in a mandatory defense, in November; in super lightweight, José Carlos Ramírez against Viktor Postol, on August 29, also in mandatory defense.
Vasyl Lomachenko, the other franchise champion, at lightweight, will clash in October against the IBF champion, Teófimo López, on October 17 in Las Vegas. If Teófimo wins, he will be recognized as the franchise champion.
Lightweight is a very competitive division, so regular champion Devin Haney will have a voluntary defense; while Ryan Garcia and Luke will compete for the interim title.
Miguel Berchelt, is committed to make the mandatory defense against Oscar Valdez. Gary Russell Jr. is in a period of optional defenses: In super bantamweight, the monarch Rey Vargas broke his leg and will be out of circulation for eight months for what he was called champion in recess. The Mexicans Luis Nery and Aarón Alameda will dispute the vacant title.
Frenchman Nordine Ouabaali will defend against Nonito Donaire, in December to fulfill his mandatory defense. Within the super flyweight division, Juan Francisco Estrada is in a period of optional defenses.
Julio César Martínez, flyweight champion, is forced to fight official challenger McWilliams Arroyo. The Japanese Kenshiro Teraji, light flyweight monarch, awaits a date for his fight. Finally, at strawweight, Wanheng Menayothin will make a voluntary defense in September.
