The World Boxing Association (WBA) Championships Committee ordered the fight between the Super Middleweight Super Champion, Briton native Callum Smith, and mandatory challenger John Ryder.

The teams of the fighters received the signed notification from the president of the Committee, Carlos Chavez, to begin negotiations in order to carry out the fight.

Rule number 11 says that the champion must fight the mandatory challenger every nine months from the date he became a champion. In the case of Smith, he won the belt on September 28th of 2018 and the period expired on June 27th of this year. Now, Ryder must be fought, as he earned the right to dispute the belt.

For its part, rule C.13 states that the bearer of the belt cannot fight anyone other than the mandatory challenger in the period within 60 days after the nine month period expires.

Protected by the regulations, the committee notified both parties that they have 30 days to reach an agreement, which will expire on September 29th.

If in that period they cannot agree to the fight, the committee will have the right to send the fight to auction based on the internal regulations of the organization.

Article courtesy of the WBA