WBC To Review Mandatory Challenger Status For Heavyweight, Cruiserweight Titles
With the recent announcement that the WBC is ordering a rematch between Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury for the world heavyweight title, questions surrounding the mandatory challenger status have been raised.
The current mandatory challenger for the WBC heavyweight title is Dominic Breazeale and has been for more than a year, but has yet to get a shot at the belt. With a potential rematch likely to take place later this year, “the mandatory status of the division is under process by WBC Board” per an announcement from the WBC.
Wilder and Fury have until February 5 to come to terms on a rematch or else a purse bid will take place. Should a rematch take place, it would leave Breazeale waiting longer for a title opportunity. WBC Silver heavyweight champion Dillian Whyte, who is negotiating a fight against unified WBA, WBO and IBF champion Anthony Joshua, recently said he would be interested in a potential fight against Breazeale.
Back in early December, Wilder and Fury fought in a heavyweight title classic, but no winner was produced as the bout ended in a split draw with calls for a rematch from the boxing community being chanted immediately.
But the heavyweight title isn’t the only one the WBC has to deal with in regards to mandatory challengers. Undisputed cruiserweight champion Oleksandr Usyk‘s next fight has yet to be announced and should he remain at cruiserweight, it will likely mean a fight against Denis Lebedev, the mandatory challenger for the WBA portion of Usyk’s title.
As for the remaining three organizations, the WBC stated that it will work with all governing bodies in the hopes of figuring out the mandatory challenger situations for the cruiserweight title.
