The WBC believes in transparency and administrative disclosure. WBC annual convention meetings determine world rankings and the mandatory status of each division in open floor meetings in which all parties have the opportunity to discuss and present their cases for consideration, analysis, and voting by the WBC Board of Governors. The WBC began to report this information in 2015 to bring clarity and transparency to the WBC’s administration for the public, and to provide clear reports from what is agreed and what happens during the course of each year.
This report presents:
- The actual minutes with all agreements from the open floor meeting at the 2015 WBC convention in bold letters.
- Specific events throughout the year in “bullet” format.
WBC QUARTERLY REPORT ABOUT CONVENTION RULINGS ON EACH DIVISION:
September 2016
HEAVYWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION: DEONTAY WILDER (US)
No. 1 ranked mandatory challenger Alexander Povetkin of Russia, who also holds the WBC Silver title, is scheduled to fight Mariusz Wach tonight in Kazan, Russia. A representative for Povetkin told the assembly that Povetkin will not be ready for his mandatory title challenge in January, when it’s due, but if he wins tonight, he will be ready in April or May. If Povetkin loses tonight, the WBC will address the mandatory situation. A voluntary title defense was approved for Wilder on January 16. The mandatory must take place from, 90-120 days after the January 16 bout. If any of the contenders sustain an injury, an interim might be ordered between Povetkin and a fighter determined by the WBC.
- Povetkin defeated Mariusz Wach by TKO12 on November 4, 2015
- Wilder defeated Spilka by KO9 on January 16, 2016
- Wilder vs. Povetkin – mandatory – purse offer February 26, won by World of Boxing.
- Johann Duhaupas defeated Robert Helenius by KO6 and won the silver title on April 2.
- Wilder vs. Povetkin fight, scheduled to take place on May 21, was postponed by adverse sample result of Povetkin.
- On June 2 the WBC granted champion Wilder a voluntary defense.
- Champion Wilder made his voluntary defense and defeated Chris Arreola by TKO8 on July 16.
- Champion Wilder suffered multiple injuries which required surgery. WBC confirmed him as champion, and Wilder will have the time required to recover from such injuries while maintaining his rights as champion .
- WBC ordered an interim world title between Alexander Povetkin and Bermane Stiverne. The promoters of both have confirmed an agreement has been reached and will advise the date and site of the fight soon.
- The mandatory status of the division will be determined during the WBC convention.
CRUISERWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION: GRIGORY DROZD (RUSSIA)
Drozd is scheduled to make his mandatory title defense against No. 1 ranked Ilunga Makabu of Congo in March.
- Durodola defeated Kudryashov by TKO2 and won the Silver title on November 4, 2015.
- The WBC did not approve a requested fight between Roy Jones and Enzo Macarinnelli for the Diamond Belt.
- Grigory Drozd vs. Ilunga Makabu mandatory – April 8 in Moscow.
- The fight was postponed because an injury to Drozd.
- The WBC named Drozd Champion in Recess.
- The WBC approved a fight between Ilunga Makabu vs. Tony Bellew. The winner would fight Drozd.
- Mairis Briedis defeated Durodola by TKO9 on May 14 in Latvia and won the silver title and final eliminator fight.
- Tony Bellew defeated Ilunga Makabu by TKO3 on May and won the vacant title.
- WBC approved a voluntary defense of champion Bellew against B. J. Flores on October 15 in Liverpool.
- Mairis Briedis is the mandatory challenger.
- Former champion Krzysztof Wlodarczyk will fight Durodola for the Silver championship on November 3, as Breidis will fight the winner of Bellew vs. Flores for the WBC world Cruiserweight championship.
LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION: ADONIS STEVENSON (CANADA)
The WBC ordered a mandatory title defense last year against WBC Diamond champion Sergey Kovalev of Russia in what would be one of the biggest fights possible. An agreement was not reached between the fighters’ representatives, but the WBC continues to fully support both parties in their continued negotiations for this super fight. In order to determine a mandatory challenger, No. 1 ranked NABF champion Isaac Chilemba of Malawi will fight No. 2 ranked WBC Silver champion Eleider Alvarez of Colombia in a final eliminator on November 28 in Quebec City.
- Stevenson vs. Kovalev proposal
- Eleider Alvarez defeated Isaac Chilemba by W12 in a defense of his silver title and final eliminator.
- Alvarez mandatory.
- Stevenson defeated Thomas Williams by KO4 in a voluntary defense on July 29
- Eleider Alvarez defeated Robert Berridge by UD10 in a non-title fight on July 29.
- Alvarez mandatory to Adonis Stevenson. GYM, who promotes both fighters, has informed that the fight is set and will take place in November in Canada.
SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION: BADOU JACK (GAMBIA/SWEDEN)
Jack is in a voluntary stage – he successfully defended the title against mandatory challenger George Groves on September 12. Jack stated at this convention that he wants to make a voluntary title defense against former WBC middleweight world champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., and Julio Cesar Chavez Sr., who is also at this convention, said that his son also wants the fight.
- George Groves appealed the result of his fight versus Badou Jack.
- Badou Jack vs. Julio Cesar Chavez was proposed.
- Callum Smith defeated Rocky Fielding by TKO1 for the Silver title.
- George Groves defeated Andrea Di Luisa by TKO, but it was not for the vacant WBC International super middleweight title since Groves did not make the weight.
- The WBC Board of Governors voted in favor of sanctioning Callum Smith vs. Hadillah Mohoumadi as a final eliminator to determine the mandatory contender of the division.
- Groves’ side protested the decision to sanction Smith vs. Mohoumadi for the WBC final eliminator and not take the second available ranked leading contender, George Groves, into consideration. It was not granted.
- Callum Smith defeated Haddillah Mohoumadi by TKO1 in a final eliminator on April 2 in Liverpool.
- Callum Smith mandatory
- Badou Jack vs. Lucian Bute fight ended in a draw on April 30.
- Washington D. C. Commission reports Lucian Bute positive in anti-doping test. Such case is still under revision by D. C. Commission.
- WBC has approved an unification fight between WBC champion Badou Jack and IBF champion James Degale. The fight will take place in November and the winner must fight WBC mandatory challenger Callum Smith next.
MIDDLEWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION: MIGUEL COTTO (PUERTO RICO)
INTERIM CHAMPION: GENNADY GOLOVKIN (KAZAKHSTAN)
- Cotto is scheduled to make a voluntary title defense against No. 1 ranked former super welterweight world champion Canelo Alvarez on November 21, with the winner committed to make a mandatory defense against WBC interim champion Gennady Golovkin of Kazakhstan.
- The WBC withdrew recognition of the WBC champion Miguel Cotto.
- Miguel Cotto and Roc Nation appealed.
- Alvarez defeated Miguel Cotto by UD12 on November 21 and won the title.
- Saul Alvarez and Gennady Golovkin signed a mutual agreement to make a voluntary defense of their corresponding championships. A 15-day free negotiation period will be ordered. If there is no agreement, a purse offer will be conducted.
- Gennady Golovkin defeated Dominic Wade by KO2 in a voluntary defense of the interim title on April 23.
- Saul Alvarez defeated Amir Khan by KO6 in a voluntary defense on May 7.
- The purse offer for the Alvarez-Golovkin fight would be on May 24.
- On May 18 Saul Alvarez relinquished the WBC title and Gennady Golovkin was named the undisputed WBC Middleweight Champion.
- Golovkin defended the title against Kell Brook by KO5 September 10 in London.
- The WBC Board of Governors has voted in favor of doing everything possible to support the best fights to take place. Golovkin was the mandatory of the division for two years and is now the WBC champion. There is no mandatory contender, and this will be reviewed during the WBC convention.
SUPER WELTERWEIGHT AND WELTERWEIGHT WORLD TITLES: VACANT
In honor of his incredible career that spanned almost 19 years and in which he won WBC world titles in five weight divisions, Floyd Mayweather Jr. was awarded the WBC Lifetime Achievement Award here yesterday and named Champion Emeritus in the super welterweight and welterweight divisions. With Mayweather’s recent retirement, both titles are now vacant. The WBC has ordered tournaments in both divisions to determine the world champions, and will contact the representatives of the top-rated fighters in both divisions to determine their participants. The WBC is currently preparing the guidelines for the tournaments.
Super Welterweight.
- Hatley defeated Mundine by TKO11 and won the Silver title.
- The original order issued at the convention for the tournament was:
- Jermell Charlo vs. John Jackson for the vacant title.
- Demetrius Andrade vs. Charley Hatley for the first mandatory. Parties informed that they had an agreement in place and then Andrade group changed the terms so the fight was not staged and they were not willing to fight each other.
- Vanes Martirosyan vs. Julian Williams – semifinal elimination. Williams withdrew from participating and fought for another organization in the process.
- Ishe Smith vs. Jorge Cota – semifinal elimination. This fight has been scheduled and postponed several times. Today there is no certainty that this fight will happen.
- The winners of the two semi-final eliminations would fight each other for the wildcard.
- Austin Trout was placed as wildcard – he did not accept to participate.
- The WBC ordered Charles Hatley vs. Vanes Martirosyan for the first mandatory. Vane’s group informed he would not participate.
- The WBC Board of Governors voted in favor to appoint Charles Hatley as the first mandatory.
- Jermell Charlo defeated John Jackson by KO8 on May 21 and won the vacant title.
- Demetrius Andrade defeated Willie Nelson by TKO12 on June 11 and is the second mandatory.
- Ishe Smith vs. Jorge Cota semifinal eliminator – August.
- Champion Charlo will make his mandatory against Charles Hatley. Both parties informed that they have reached an agreement but there is n information about date and place of the bout.
- Champion Charlo will make his first mandatory against Charles Hatley. Both parties informed that they have reached an agreement but there is no information about date and place of the bout.
- Demetrius Andrade, who is the second mandatory, has signed to fight for another organization and this case will be reviewed at the WBC convention.
It is very unfortunate that the super welterweight tournament, as planned, has been disrupted by the withdrawal of several fighters and irresponsible actions, which have lead to inactivity of some fighters who have waited for those matches to happen.
Welterweight .
- Danny Garcia defeated Robert Guerrero by KO9 and won the vacant welterweight title on January 23.
- Sammy Vasquez defeated Aaron Martinez by TKO 6 in a semi-final elimination on January 23.
- Miguel Barrionuevo defeated Cosio by TKO5 in a semi-final elimination on January 30.
- The winner of Sammy Vasquez vs. Miguel Barrionuevo would determine the wildcard. Vazquez decided to take another route and lost a fight, consequently has withdrawn from the process.
- Ray Robinson was positioned as wildcard. Robinson stated throughout the process that he was willing and available and remained inactive waiting for the tournament to develop.
- Amir Khan, mandatory contender to Danny Garcia, will decide if he will use this right after his May 7 fight. Amir Khan has confirmed that he has opted to continue his career in boxing in welterweight and wishes to use his mandatory status.
- Lamont Peterson vs. Andre Berto – final elimination to determine the second mandatory. Purse offer February 26, Berto withdrew from his position.
- Lamont Peterson vs. Ray Robinson – final elimination – purse offer April 29. The WBC was informed Lamont Peterson was not interested in the fight.
- Charles Manyuchi defeated Dimitry Mikhaylenko by UD12 on May 6 and won the silver title.
- Amir Khan has gone under hand surgery and it is undetermined the time he will be out of the ring . The mandatory status of the division will be reviewed during the WBC convention.
It is very unfortunate that the welterweight tournament, as planned, has been disrupted by the withdrawal of several fighters and irresponsible actions which have lead to inactivity of some fighters who have waited for those matches to happen.
SUPER LIGHTWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION: VIKTOR POSTOL (UKRAINE)
Since Postol won the vacant title – with a sensational performance against Lucas Matthysse on October 3 – he is required to make two mandatory defenses according to WBC rules. No. 1 ranked mandatory challenger Amir Imam of the U.S. is contracted to fight on November 28 in Quebec City, so Postol was approved for a voluntary defense, with the winner of that fight to make the first mandatory defense in his next fight. The second mandatory challenger is to be determined.
- Postol one voluntary defense.
- Winner to fight Amir Imam mandatory challenger, but Imam lost.
- Imam to fight in a final elimination bout.
- Andrea Scarpa defeated John Wayne Hibbert by TKO6 and won the vacant silver title on June 25.
- Terence Crawford defeated Viktor Postol by UD12 on July 23 and won the WBC title in a unification WBC-WBO title fight.
- Final elimination ordered between Antonio Orozco and Amir Imam to determine the mandatory challenger.
- Champion Crawford granted a voluntary defense.
LIGHTWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION: JORGE LINARES (VENEZUELA)
Linares won the vacant title on December 30, 2014, and made his first mandatory defense against Kevin Mitchell. Dejan Zlaticanin of Montenegro is his second mandatory challenger, and the WBC will start the process for free negotiations for that fight on its return to Mexico City after this convention.
- Linares vs. Dejan Zlaticanin – mandatory
- Linares injured and an interim championship was ordered between Dejan Zlaticanin and Emiliano Marsili – no later than June 2016.
- Linares was placed as champion in recess.
- The Zlaticanin vs. Marsilli was scheduled first for April and then was moved to June 11. Marsilli had to pull out of the fight, as he became ill.
- The WCB accepted to proceed with the title fight with the highest available contender #5 Mamani.
- Dejan Zlaticanin defeated Mamani by TKO3 on June 11 and won the interim lightweight title.
- The WBC approved the unification fight between Linares vs. Anthony Crolla, WBA champion, for the Diamond Belt on September 24 in the U. K.
- The winner must fight the interim champion Zlaticanin.
SUPER FEATHERWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION: TAKASHI MIURA (JAPAN)
Miura is scheduled to make a defense against No. 1 ranked mandatory challenger Francisco Vargas of Mexico on November 21 in Las Vegas.
- Francisco Vargas defeated Takashi Miura by TKO9 and won the superfeatherweight title on November 21, 2015.
- Miguel Roman defeated Juli Giner by TKO8 in a final eliminator on April 1.
- Stephen Smith defeated Daniel Brizuela by TKO7 on May 29 in England and won the Silver title.
- Francisco Vargas vs. Orlando Salido ended in a draw in a voluntary defense for the champion on June 4.
- Miguel Roman is the mandatory challenger.
- The WBC mandated champion Francisco Vargas to take six months off the ring due to the severe injuries sustained in his last two fights, and there has been continous assessment on the development of his recovery with medical examinations.
FEATHERWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION: GARY RUSSELL JR. (US)
Russell was scheduled to make a voluntary title defense against Oscar Escandon of Colombia on November 14, but it was confirmed at the convention today that Russell was injured in training and the fight has been cancelled. No. 1 ranked mandatory challenger Robinson Castellanos of Mexico, who also holds the WBC Silver title, had accepted a step-aside agreement so that Russell could make the voluntary defense against Escandon. The WBC today approved Castellanos vs. Escandon for the interim featherweight world title.
WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman commented, “The interim champion concept was created for unique situations, basically for when a champion is injured or when a champion has a legal contractual situation that does not allow him to be active. The WBC, with much regret, has seen the concept of the interim championships be diminished, and it has become a circus in some parts of the world. The WBC has limited, very much, the interim championships. However, in this case, I believe there’s merit. I’m very surprised and I’m very sorry to hear the news about Russell’s injury, because Russell and Escandon were supposed to fight in September, then it was moved to October, and then it was moved to November.”
- Ronny Rios defeated Velez by W10 for the Silver title.
- Leo Santa Cruz defeated Kiko Martinez on February 27 in a special event in California.
- Oscar Escandon defeated Robinson Castellanos by TKO7 and won the interim championship, on March 5.
- Gary Russell defeated Patrick Hyland by KO2 in a voluntary on April 16; the winner would fight Oscar Escandon next.
- Ronny Rios defeated Efrain Esquivias by TKO2 in a non-title fight on June in California.
- Cristian Mijares defeated Gutierrez by W12 on June 4 and won the vacant Silver title.
- Gary Russell will fight Oscar Escandon for the undisputed title.
SUPER BANTAMWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION: JULIO CEJA (MEXICO)
Ceja won the vacant title on August 29, 2015. The WBC today approved final eliminators to determine the two mandatory challengers. In one, No. 1 ranked Qiu Xiao Jun of China, who also holds the WBC Silver title, will fight No. 4 ranked Alexis Kabore of Burkina Faso, who also holds the WBC International title. In the other, No. 2 ranked Rey Vargas of Mexico will fight No. 3 ranked Guillermo Rigondeaux of Cuba.
- iu Xiao Jun defeated Belahdj Ali by TKO11 for the silver title
- Gavin McDonnell defeated Jorge Sanchez by W12 for the silver Feb. 27 in U. K.
- 1 rated Qiu Xiao Jun vs. No. 4 rated Alexis Cabore fight ordered, but Jun fought for another organization.
- 2 rated Rey Vargas vs. No. 3 rated Guillermo Rigondeaux – fight ordered without response.
- Hugo Ruiz defeated Julio Ceja on Feb. 27 in California by KO1 with Ceja injured foot.
- Rey Vargas defeated Alexis Kabore by W12 in a final elimination on June 6.
- Rey Vargas is the mandatory challenger
- Hozumi Hasegawa defeated champion Hugo Ruiz in a voluntary defense on September 16 in Tokyo. Ruiz sustained a broken nose in an accidental head clash in the first round and has requested the WBC to review his case .
- Hasegawa must make the mandatory defense vs. Rey Vargas.
- The Ruiz case will be reviewed during the WBC convention.
BANTAMWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION: SHINSUKE YAMANAKA (JAPAN)
The WBC ordered a final eliminator between No. 1 ranked Suriyan Sor Rungvisai of Thailand, who also holds the Asian Boxing Council title, and No. 2 ranked Anselmo Moreno of Panama to determine the mandatory challenger. The WBC has been advised that Yamanaka might vacate the title to move up in weight. If that is the case, the Rungvisai-Moreno fight would be for the vacant WBC world title.
- Yamanaka defeated Liborio Solis by UD12 on March 4, in Japan
- Anselmo Moreno defeated Suriyan Sor Rungvisai by W12 in a final eliminator and won the vacant Silver title on April 30 2016.
- Shinsuke Yamanaka defeated Anselmo Moreno by KO6 in a mandatory title defense on September 16 in Japan.
SUPER FLYWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION: CARLOS CUADRAS (MEXICO)
Cuadras is contracted to make a voluntary defense against No. 2 ranked Koki Eto of Japan on November 28 in Miyagi, Japan, with the winner to next make a defense against No. 1 ranked mandatory challenger Srisaket Sor Rungvisai of Thailand, who also holds the WBC Silver title.
- Cuadras defeated Koki Eto by W12 in a voluntary fight, on November 28, 2015.
- Cuadras vs. Srisaket Sor Rungvisai mandatory defense was scheduled.
- Rungvisai agreed to a voluntary defense by Cuadras.
- Cuadras defeated Richie Mepranum by TKO8 in a voluntary fight on April 23
- Rungvisai mandatory.
- Roman Gonzalez defeated Carlos Cuadras, conquering the super flyweight title on September 10 in California, and will have two weeks to confirm which division he will continue fighting.
- Carlos Cuadras is requesting a direct rematch against new champion Roman Gonzalez .
- The mandatory status will be reviewed during the WBC convention
FLYWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION: ROMAN GONZALEZ (NICARAGUA)
A final eliminator was ordered between No. 1 ranked Nawaphon Sor Rungvisai of Thailand and Edgar Sosa of Mexico to determine the mandatory challenger, but Gonzalez made a voluntary defense against Sosa instead and the mandatory challenger was not determined. In view of this situation, the WBC approved Sor Rungvisai as mandatory challenger.
- Omari Kimweri defeated Randy Petalcorin by W12 and won the Silver title on April 15. On May 2, the WBC declared the title vacant.
- Roman Gonzalez defeated McWilliams Arroyo by W12 in a voluntary defense on April 23 in California.
- Nawaphon Sor Rungvisai mandatory.
- Gonzalez vs. Cuadras in a voluntary defense of Cuadras in super flyweight on September 10 in California.
- Muhammad Waseem defeated Jether Oliva by W12 and won the Silver title on July 17 in Seoul.
- Roman Gonzalez defeated Carlos Cuadras, conquering the super flyweight title on September 10 in California, and will have two weeks to confirm which division he will continue fighting.
LIGHT FLYWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION: PEDRO GUEVARA (MEXICO)
Guevara is currently in a voluntary stage. The WBC approved a final eliminator to determine the mandatory challenger between No. 1 ranked Jonathan Inguito Taconing of the Philippines, who also holds the Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation title, and No. 4 ranked Juan Hernandez of Mexico.
- Yu Kimura defeated Pedro Guevara by W12 and won the Lt. Flyweight title on November 28, 2015.
- Ganigan Lopez defeated Yu Kimura and won the title in a voluntary defense on March 4 in Japan.
- Silver champion Ricardo Perez won a unanimous decision in a non-title fight on March 18 in Quintana Roo. The silver championship has been declared vacant due to inactivity.
- Ganigan Lopez defeated Jonathan Taconing by UD12 on July 2 in Mexico.
- Lopez vs. Guevara scheduled next.
- The mandatory status will be reviewed during the WBC convention.
MINIMUMWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION: WANHENG MENAYOTHIN (THAILAND)
Menayothin is scheduled to make a voluntary defense against No. 9 ranked Young Kil Bae of South Korea on November 24 in Chonburi, Thailand, and is scheduled to fight again next February. The WBC approved a final eliminator to determine the mandatory challenger between No. 1 ranked Denver Cuello of the Philippines and No. 2 ranked Saul Juarez of Mexico on December 5. If the winner of the eliminator is not ready to fight again in February, the winner of Menayothin-Young will be allowed a voluntary defense.
- Saul Juarez vs. Osvaldo Novoa final elimination fight ended in a technical draw in one round on December 12, 2015
- Menayothin defeated Go Odaira by TKO5 on March 3 in Thailand – voluntary defense.
- Juarez defeated Novoa by W12 in the final eliminator for the mandatory challenger on March 18.
- Menayothin defeated Juarez by W12 in a mandatory defense on August 2 in Thailand.
- The silver title has been declared vacant due to inactivity of Janiel Rivera.
- The mandatory status will be reviewed during the WBC convention.
