Before we dig into each weight category to find out which fight have been ordered for the coveted green and gold belt, the WBC announced at the 2022 WBC Convention in Acapulco, Mexico that all Russian and Belarusian fighters will be removed from all WBC rankings due to the war in Ukraine.
Currently Russian born WBC Champion Artur Beterbiev can keep his title due to his Canadian citizenship. All fighters with similar circumstances will be allowed to continue fighting within the WBC rankings and any fighter is allowed to submit an appeal under various circumstances.
WBC Heavyweight World Champion Tyson Fury faces Derek Chisora in a mandatory defence on December 3rd. Deontay Wilder and Andy Ruiz have been mandated for a mandatory position in the meantime.
At Bridgerweight, the newest division created by the WBC to accommodate the smaller heavyweight’s or big cruiserweight’s. Evgeny Romanov will assumably be removed from the ranking’s due to his Russian citizenship. Romanov currently holds the mandatory position for Oscar Rivas’ World tile. Rivas will instead fight Lukcasz Rozanski in Poland, while Alen Babic and Ryad Mehry have been ordered to fight the winner.
WBC Cruiserweight World Champion Ilunga Makabu will next make a voluntary defense of his title with the opponent and venue yet to be confirmed. However, ProBox News spoke exclusively to Canadian contender Ryan Rozicki, who confirmed he had accepted an opportunity to fight Makabu in his hometown of Kinshasa for it be cancelled with a view to reschedule early next year. Thabiso Mchunu will meet Badou Jack to decide the mandatory position.
WBC Light Heavyweight World Champion Artur Beterbiev will have to face mandatory contender Callum Smith unless Beterbiev is unsuccessful in a WBO mandatory against fellow Brit Anthony Yarde. In either outcome the former WBC Super Middleweight champion Callum Smith will face the winner. Boxing fans are growing ever instant on an undisputed 175 pound clash between Beterbiev and fellow Russian Dmitry Bivol, which does bring up the issue of Bivol’s Russian citizenship. The WBC have expressed that they will review that situation once Callum Smith’s mandatory has been fulfilled.
At Super Middleweight where Canelo Alvarez reigns supreme, the WBC have ordered Caleb Plant to fight Interim Champion David Benavidez for the mandatory status. With Canelo currently recovering from surgery, it is plainly obvious that the WBC are happy to give boxing’s biggest attraction some time to heal.
WBC Middleweight World champion Jermall Charlo has not defended his title in nearly 18 months, last defeating Juan Macias Montiel in his native Houston. Interim champion Carlos Adames was at the convention to petition for a mandatory shot at Charlo, which has been approved by the WBC. With Carlo currently injured, a time scale has not yet been decided for a bout between Charlo and Adames.
At 154 pounds Jermell Charlo currently holds the WBC title, the Texan also holds undisputed status in the division laying claim to the WBO, WBA and IBF. Charlo is due to face number 2 ranked Tim Tszyu next year, in the meanwhile the WBC have ordered a fight to be taken place by former WBC champion Tony Harrison and current Interim champion Sebastian Fundora to distinguish a mandatory challenger.
Welterweight WBC World champion Errol Spence has been ordered to fight former WBC Welterweight champion Keith Thurman. Vergil Ortiz and Jaron Ennis occupy the 2nd and 3rd place’s in the WBC rankings, but no mandatory fight has been ordered beyond Keith Thurman. One point of note is that Conor Benn has been removed form the rankings due to his failed VADA drug test’s this past summer.
At Super Lightweight we will see Jose Zepeda lock horns with Regis Prograis for the vacant WBC World Championship at 140 pounds on November 26th. That being said, WBC rules stipulate when winning a vacant title you must face 2 mandatory challengers. Former WBC champion Jose Ramirez will be one, the other mandatory slot will go to the winner of another mandated fight between spaniard Sandor Martin and former 135 pound champion Teofimo Lopez, who fights Jose Pedraza on December 12th.
In the Lightweight division everything seems to be falling into place nicely after all the problems that arose upon the invention of WBC Franchise title. Devin Haney proudly wears the green and gold belt with Vasyl Lomachenko hot on his heels as the mandatory challenger. The pair appear to be on good terms to make the fight happen. The WBC did order an eliminator between Shakur Stevenson and Issac Cruz, however a fight is unlikely to happen due to either fighter’s promotional commitments.
At Super Featherweight Shakur Stevenson leaves a vacant title. The WBC have since ordered number 1 ranked O’Shaquie Foster to face WBC Featherweight World Champion Rey Vargas for the vacant title at Super Featherweight. Rey Vargas will not however relinquish his title at Featherweight, an Interim WBC title bout has been accepted by the governing body for Brandon Figueroa to fight current WBC Super Bantamweight champion Stephen Fulton.
In the Bantamweight division the WBC have ordered an Interim title bout between Jason Moloney and Nonito Donaire. Naoya Inoue currently holds the WBC crown and will fight Paul Butler in December for undisputed status. A lot will depend on when the Japanese superstar moves up in weight. If Inoue does vacate his title shortly after a presumed victory over Paul Butler, Moloney Vs Doniare could well be for the full World title.
On December 3rd Juan Francisco Estrada and Roman Gonzalez go to battle in an epic trilogy for the WBC World title in the Super Flyweight division. Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez has vacated the title at Super Flyweight to now campaign back at Flyweight, where Julio Cesar Martinez holds the WBC title. Martinez is still expected to defend his title against McWilliams Arroyo after a host of cancellations.
At Light Flyweight, WBC World champion Kenshiro Teraji has been mandated to face former two-weight World champion Hekkie Budler. At Straw-weight Panya Pradabsri has no obligation currently to face any mandatory challenger, however Ayanda Ndulani and Luis Castillo will meet in a final eliminator.
