WBA orders Murodjon Akhmadaliev to defend his titles against Ronny Rios

Unified WBA and IBF super bantamweight world champion Murodjon Akhmadaliev will likely to have his next fight against WBA mandatory contender Ronny Rios. WBA officially ordered a fight and set a 30-day deadline for the parties to negotiate.

The Committee sent the communication to both teams, who are aware of the mandatory fight. The period for Akhmadaliev’s mandatory defense expired on January 29th, 2021, but the WBA allowed the champion to make the mandatory defense of the IBF, organization of which he is also champion, against Japanese Ryosuke Iwasa last April 3rd.

According to rule C.13, Bout Limitations, the champion cannot fight a boxer who is not the official challenger within 60 days after the expiration of the mandatory defense period.

Accordingly, the Committee grants 30 days for negotiations starting on April 6th, 2021. This period will end on May 6th, 2021 (- 5 GMT). In case both parties fail to reach an agreement or there is unwillingness of any of the fighters or their representatives, the Committee may call to purse bids to grant the promotional rights of the fight.

Murodjon Akhmadaliev (9-0, 7 KOs) defended his IBF belt against Japanese former world champion Ryosuke Iwasa at a boxing match in Tashkent on April 3 and won in the 5th round by technical knockout.

31-year-old American Ronny Rios (33-3, 16 KOs) camtured the WBA Gold title in 2019, beating Diego De La Hoya with 6-round stoppage. He had his last fight on February 12 this year, defeating Oscar Negrette by UD.