Croatian slugger Alen Babić (11-0, 10 KOs) will fight for the vacant world title in bridgerweight (up to 101.6 kg). His opponent is the unbeaten 36-year-old Pole Lukasz Rozanski (14-0, 13 KOs). This was announced by the promoter Andrzej Wasilewski (Knock Out Promotion).
He reports that the WBC really ordered two fights right away. In the second, the 1st number of the organization’s rating and the mandatory contender will be determined – Riyad Merhi (31-1, 26 KOs) from Belgium and Kevin Lerena (28-2, 14 KOs) from South Africa will meet in a full-time fight.
The newly-minted champion is obliged to give an immediate fight to the newly-minted challenger.
The WBC bridgeweight title was vacated after Colombian Oscar Rivas withdrew from a mandatory defense due to retinal problems. He has not entered the ring since October 2021.
IBF champion in the second flyweight (up to 52.2 kg) Argentine puncher Fernando Martinez (15-0, 8 KOs) will fight his next fight with his mandatory challenger – unbeaten Filipino Jade Bornea (18-0, 12 KOs).
If the teams of boxers fail to agree, then on January 17 the promoters of the fighters will meet at the auction, and the winner of the auction will receive the right to organize a duel.
Martinez took the belt from the long-playing Philippine champion Jervin Ancajas (he beat almost one wicket, and twice in a row), and Bornea took his candidate status in a fight with the Moroccan Mohammed Obbadi.
Unbelievable but true: The Philippines has no reigning world champions. However, today a fighter from this country will fight on the road for the WBO belt – read about this and more in the traditional article The main fights of January 2023 in boxing: Davis – Garcia and the title fights of Ukrainians.