WBO orders Stevenson to negotiate with Muratalla – 20-day deadline
The WBO has ordered super lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson's mandatory defence against Raymond Muratalla. Without a deal by November 16, a purse bid follows.
Archive image · Photo: Fernando Frazão/Agência Brasil / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0 BR (cropped and resized)
It is now official: on Tuesday the WBO posted an order on its website for negotiations on a mandatory fight between super lightweight world champion Shakur Stevenson (25-0, 11 KOs) and its No. 1 contender Raymond Muratalla (25-0, 17 KOs), FIGHTMAG and Boxing News report. According to Boxing News, the WBO statement says the parties "shall have 20 days to reach terms, pursuant to WBO Regulations"; WBO president Gustavo Olivieri confirmed the decision.
According to FIGHTMAG, the deadline expires on Monday, November 16. If there is no agreement by then, the WBO will order a purse bid; either side can also request one earlier. According to Boxing News (US), the order followed a petition from Muratalla's promoter Top Rank.
Stevenson won the title in January with victory over Teófimo López and has not fought since. According to Boxing News, his only options now are the mandatory defence or vacating the belt. There was initially no comment from Stevenson.