The World Boxing Council (WBC) has convened at their annual convention in Alcapulco, Mexico and on the third day of the convention is arguably its most important day. Today (11/9) has seen the WBC championship committee order various mandatories for their champions along with final eliminators to secure mandatory defences going forward into 2023.
Heavyweight
Former unified world heavyweight champion Andy Ruiz and former long-reigning WBC world heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder, have been ordered to contest a final eliminator. The winner of the contest will then become the mandatory challenger for the current WBC world champion, Tyson Fury, who faces Derek Chisora in December in London.
Bridgerweight
WBC world bridgerweight champion, Oscar Rivas, will Lukasz RozanskI reportedly on 2/25 in 2023 in Poland. The contest will be a mandatory defence. The WBC has ordered that Silver champion Alen Babic & Ryad Merhy contest a final eliminator with the winner becoming mandatory for Rivas.
Cruiserweight
WBC world cruiserweight champion Illunga Makabu has been allowed a voluntary defence of which has not been scheduled at the time of publication. Makubu then has been ordered to face mandatory challenger Noel Mikaelyn following the requested voluntary defence. Thabiso Mchunu & Badou Jack have been ordered to contest a final eliminator to become the next mandatory challenger.
Light-Heavyweight
WBC world light-heavyweight champion has been ordered to face mandatory challenger Callum Smith following Beterbiev’s WBO mandatory title defence against Anthony Yarde. Beterbiev & Yarde will square off on January 28th 2023 in London.
Super-Middleweight
WBC interim champion David Benavidez, who is set to fight former WBC world champion Caleb Plant, will see the winner of the contest become the mandatory challenger for Saul “Canelo” Alvarez. Alvarez is the current undisputed world champion. Christian Mbilli vs. Ali Akhmedov has been called for in an eliminator.
Middleweight
Carlos Adames lobbied himself personally to become the mandatory challenger for WBC world champion Jermell Charlo. Adames is currently the interim champion however the WBC made no ruling on the request. Jermell Charlo has not fought so far in 2022.
Super-Welterweight
Sampson Lewkowicz stumped for his charge- interim WBC champ Sebastian Fundora to be the WBC mandatory for undisputed champion Jermall Charlo after his WBO mandatory Tim Tszyu. In the meantime, Fundora will defend against silver champion Tony Harrison. The winner of that fight will be the WBC mandatory challenger.
Welterweight
Following the collapse in negotiations between unified world champion Terence Crawford and WBC champion Errol Spence, Keith Thurman has been installed as the mandatory challenger for Spence. Thurman is a former WBC world champion at welterweight.
Super-Lightweight
Jose Carlos Ramirez will be the first mandatory for the winner of the vacant title between Regis Prograis and Jose Zepeda. The winner has to face Jose Ramirez. Teofimo Lopez will fight Jose Pedraza on December 10. He will then face Sandor Martin to decide the second mandatory.
Lightweight
No mandatory has been called for Undisputed world champion Devin Haney. However, he is most likely to face former three-weight world champion, Vasyl Lomachenko in his next fight according to Top Rank of whom promotes both fighters. Meanwhile, former two-weight world champion, Shakur Stevenson & Isaac Cruz have been ordered to contest a final eliminator to decide the mandatory position.
Super-Featherweight
WBC Silver champion O’Shaquie Foster will fight Rey Vargas (current WBC featherweight champ) for the vacant title. The winner would have two mandatories. The first would be against Eduardo Hernandez and the second would be determined by the winner of Robson Conceicao and Muhammadkhula Yaqubov.
Featherweight
WBC Champion Rey Vargas is fighting for the vacant junior lightweight title. If he wins, he has to decide in which division is going to fight. Omar Figueroa and Stephen Fulton will fight for a rematch for the interim title. If Vargas doesn’t return to featherweight, the winner will become the full champion. Mark Magsayo and Isaac Dogboe will meet in a final eliminator.
Super-Bantamweight
Unified & WBC Champion Stephen Fulton is fighting at featherweight and will then decide in which weight class he will perform. Luis Nery and Azat Hovhannisyan will fight a final eliminator and Raesse Aleem and David Picasso will fight an eliminator.
Bantamweight
Unified & WBC Champion Naoya Inoue will face WBO titlist Paul Butler to decide the undisputed champion. If Inoue wins, he is expected to vacate. That would open up for Jason Moloney and Nonito Donaire to fight for the vacant title. Nawaphon Sor Rungvisai and Reymart Gaballo will fight a final eliminator.
Super-Flyweight
Juan Francisco Estrada and Roman Gonzalez will fight for the vacant title on December 3. They would have a voluntary defence. Andrew Moloney and Pedro Guevara will fight in a final eliminator
Flyweight
.Champion Julio Cesar Martinez will defend his title on December 3. He had been due to face interim champion McWilliams Arroyo, who is injured. If Angel Ayala Lardizabel accepts the fight is will be as the mandatory challenger, if not he will stay in that position for the next fight.
Junior Flyweight
Champion Kenshiro Teraji has been called to defend his title against Hekkie Budler.
Strawweight
Champion Panya Pradabsri is in a voluntary stage. Ayanda Ndulani and Luis Castillo will meet in a final eliminator.
