WBC bantamweight champion Nordine Oubaali is planning to have his first title defense take place this summer.
The 118-pound champion is looking to fight in June, according to an article posted on the WBC's website. The fight could take place in Morocco where Oubaali's roots can be traced back to.
The unbeaten Oubaali won the WBC title back in January when he defeated Rau'Shee Warren by a fairly close decision over the course of 12 rounds. The fight, which took place on the undercard of Manny Pacquiao's WBA "Regular" welterweight title defense against Adrien Broner, saw Oubaali win with scores of 115-113, 116-112 and 117-111. Before winning the world title, Oubaali had held the WBC's Silver title in 2017.
The title was previously held by Luis Nery, but he would lose the title on the scales for coming in overweight before a title defense against Shinsuke Yamanaka in early 2018. Nery won the fight, but would go on to be suspended by the WBC.
The WBC would not just create a matchup for the vacant title, but also created an interim title that was later won by Takuma Inoue. Current WBA "Super" champion Nonito Donaire holds the WBC Diamond title, but is busy competing in the World Boxing Super Series.