The WBC is currently hosting its 63rd annual conference in Bangkok, Thailand, with the highlight of the six-day meeting taking place on Wednesday. The sanctioning body reviewed the situation at all levels and ordered mandatory matches, interim title fights and knockout rounds.
In the heavyweight division, Oleksandr Usyk holds the WBC heavyweight title, as well as the WBA and IBF titles. Usyk has been given the option to voluntarily defend his WBC belt, possibly against Deontay Wilder, as was heavily rumored during the conference this week. The sanctioning body also ordered Moses Itauma to fight Lawrence Okolie in the final for the title. On January 10, Agit Kabayel, who held the interim belt, faced Damian Knyba.
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Downgraded to light heavyweight, David Benavidez’s request to retain the WBC light heavyweight title while moving up to light heavyweight to challenge Gilberto “Zundo” Ramirez for the unified WBA and WBO titles was granted, a request that was granted. Meanwhile, the WBC ordered second- and third-ranked contenders Joshua Buatsi and Ben Whittaker to final elimination bouts.
Terrence Crawford has been stripped of his WBC super middleweight title for failing to pay his sanctioning fees. As a result, the WBC ordered its interim champion Christian Mbili and number two contender Hamza Shiraz to fight for the vacant WBC title. Lester Martinez will be the next contender for the Mbilli-Sheeraz title.
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Sebastian Fundola next defends his WBC title against Keith Thurman in the super welterweight division. Sources told Uncrowned that it could take place at the Super Boxing Championship on January 31.
Golden Boy Promotions, which represents interim champion Virgil Ortiz Jr., confirmed Ortiz is in talks with WBA champion Jaylen “Butz” Ennis and could reach a deal by next week. Bakari Samak was also ordered to face Elmar Hadribej in a title eliminator match.
The WBC has confirmed that Mario Barrios will defend his WBC welterweight title against Ryan Garcia on February 21. It was ruled that the winner of Barrios vs. Garcia must face WBC number one contender and mandatory challenger Connor Benn.
Subriel Matias’ explanation for failed drug tests for banned substance ostarine – indicating the supplement was contaminated – was accepted. Mathias will be allowed to resume his fight for the WBC super lightweight title against his mandatory challenger Dalton Smith on January 10. The winner of Matias vs. Smith will be ordered to fight for his belt against Alberto Puello.
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Shakur Stevenson will be allowed to retain his WBC lightweight title while he challenges Teofimo Lopez for the WBO super lightweight title on January 31. The WBC also upgraded Jadir Herrera’s fight with Ricardo Nunez from a knockout to an interim title fight.
Knockouts are confirmed for the Super Featherweight and Featherweight divisions. In the former, Michael Magnisi will clash with Marc Magsayo, while in the latter, Nathaniel Collins will face off against Cristóbal Llorente. Bruce “Shush” Carrington will also challenge for his interim WBC featherweight title against Carlos Castro on January 31, a fight to be announced soon.
The sanctioning body reiterated plans for an All-Japan superfight between Naoya Inoue and Junto Nakatani to take place in May 2026 at the Tokyo Dome.
WBC flyweight champion Ricardo Sandoval and WBC interim flyweight champion Galal Yafaei have both qualified to voluntarily defend their gold belts. The WBC had previously ordered both men to make mandatory title defenses, but they will no longer do so.