It seems that soon the owner of all the first welterweight belts (up to 63.5 kg) Briton Josh Taylor (19-0, 13 KOs) will lose his absolute status – he is required to immediately carry out two mandatory defenses in a row according to the WBA and WBC versions. At the same time, it seems that the organizations failed to agree among themselves on the order in which the champion should defend his belts.
Yesterday at the WBC, Taylor was required to fight tough two-time US contender José Cepeda (35-2, 27 KOs). If the parties do not agree amicably, then on May 24 a promotional auction will take place. Both Taylor and Cepeda have collaborated with Top Rank Bob Arum.
The WBC is dissatisfied with colleagues from the WBA. The organization said that “earlier, the presidents of the WBC-WBA-IBF-WBO agreed at a meeting in Puerto Rico that Taylor’s first mandatory defense would be the WBC defense, and then the IBF defense.”
Despite these agreements, last week the WBA sanctioned the absolute fight with its mandatory challenger, Dominican Alberto Puello (20-0, 10 KOs). Promotional auctions have already taken place, after which it became obvious that there would be no fight – the promoter of the applicant TGB Promotions Tom Brown won with a minimum bet of 200 thousand USD. Taylor will definitely refuse the fight for 110 thousand USD (55%), as he received seven-figure fees in his last fights.
Previously, he intended to move up a division to American WBO champion Terence Crawford, but he seems to be very busy – there are high chances to organize a duel for the title of absolute with the owner of the remaining belts in 66.7 kg compatriot Errol Spence. So Cepeda would be a very good and real option for the champion.
Taylor made one mandatory defense – in February, he very controversially beat compatriot Jack Catterall. Josh claimed that he was eager to give revenge to Catterall. But there are nuances.
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