The WBC has made its decision regarding the mandatory challenger situation regarding its bantamweight title.
Fresh off a "Fight of the Year" contender in the World Boxing Super Series finals, Nonito Donaire was named the mandatory challenger to the bantamweight title being held by Nordine Oubaali. Per a WBC ruling, the negotiation period to make that fight happen has begun and if no agreement is reached, a purse offer will be conducted on January 3, 2020 in Mexico City.
WBC Bantamweight Division Status
"The WBC Board of Governors has voted unanimously to appoint Nonito Donaire as the WBC mandatory contender in the bantamweight division.
The free negotiations period has begun for the mandatory title defense of WBC bantamweight champion Nordine Oubaali and if no agreement is reached, a purse offer will be conducted on Friday January 3, 2020 in Mexico City."
Donaire enjoyed a triumphant return to bantamweight last year when he entered the global tournament. After picking up a win over Ryan Burnett in the tournament quarterfinals to win the WBA title, he would defend the belt in the semifinals against Stephon Young in April. On November 7, Donaire lost a 12-round decision against Naoya Inoue in a WBA-IBF title unification in the WBSS finals.
This comes after Luis Nery was stripped of his mandatory challenger status for missing weight before a fight against Emmanuel Rodriguez last month. Nery came in at 119 pounds at the weigh-ins, one pound over the bantamweight limit of 118 pounds. An attempt from the Nery camp was made to ensure the fight against Rodriguez, scheduled to open the Deontay Wilder vs. Luis Ortiz 2 PBC on FOX pay-per-view, was still intact. Rodriguez's side rejected any offer that Nery's side had in mind and the fight was canceled.
Nery was originally the WBC bantamweight champion until early 2018 when he also came in overweight for a title defense against Shinsuke Yamanaka and was then stripped of the title. The belt would remain vacant until this past January when Oubaali defeated Rau'shee Warren.
