ACAPULCO, MEXICO – NOVEMBER 11, 2026 – The 64th Annual Convention of the World Boxing Council (WBC) hosted its mandatory bouts session, led by WBC President Mauricio Sulaimán and the Board of Governors. Promoters, boxers, and their representatives presented their requests, and the status of all 18 divisions was reviewed, including champions’ obligations, eliminators to determine challengers, and the priority of potential unification bouts.
The following are the main resolutions and matters discussed in each division:
STRAWWEIGHT | SIYAKHOLWA KUSE
With his mandatory obligations up to date, Siyakholwa Kuse has scheduled a voluntary defense of his WBC world title against the Philippines’ Joey Canoy.
LIGHT FLYWEIGHT | SHOKICHI IWATA
Shokichi Iwata fulfilled his mandatory defense on July 20, 2026, defeating Eric Badillo. The champion is now eligible to make a voluntary defense.
FLYWEIGHT | SERGIO MENDOZA
Sergio Mendoza captured the WBC world title on October 10, 2026, after stepping in as a last-minute replacement. The division’s last mandatory defense took place on September 22, 2024. Interim champion Galal Yafai is ready to return to the ring following a break for health reasons. Mandatory challenger Francisco Rodríguez, meanwhile, is undergoing medical evaluation due to an eye condition.
SUPER FLYWEIGHT | RICARDO MALAJIKA
Ricardo Malajika won the vacant title on September 27, 2026, in a mandatory bout. The champion now enters a period in which he may make a voluntary defense.
BANTAMWEIGHT | TAKUMA INOUE
Takuma Inoue won the vacant title on November 24, 2025, and committed to two consecutive mandatory defenses. The first took place on September 27, 2026, when he defeated Tenshin Nasukawa. Andrew Cain will be his second mandatory challenger.
SUPER BANTAMWEIGHT | NAOYA INOUE
Naoya Inoue is in negotiations to face Jesse “Bam” Rodríguez. Separately, the WBC approved ordering a bout between Junto Nakatani and Ramón Cárdenas for the division’s interim title.
FEATHERWEIGHT | BRUCE CARRINGTON
Bruce Carrington is eligible to make a voluntary defense. Cristóbal Lorente and Mikito Nakano will meet in a final eliminator on January 11, 2027, in Japan.
SUPER FEATHERWEIGHT | O’SHAQUIE FOSTER
O’Shaquie Foster, unified WBC, WBO and IBF champion, will pursue undisputed status against the winner of the bout between Anthony Cacace and Nick Ball for the WBA title. The WBC determined that this potential unification will take priority over any other commitment in the division.
LIGHTWEIGHT | WILLIAM ZEPEDA
William Zepeda and interim champion Jadier Herrera agreed to contest the mandatory defense of the WBC world lightweight title. The bout is scheduled for March 13, 2027, in Mexico.
SUPER LIGHTWEIGHT | DALTON SMITH
Dalton Smith fulfilled his mandatory defense on October 24, 2026, defeating former champion Alberto Puello. The champion may make a voluntary defense before facing interim champion Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz.
WELTERWEIGHT | RYAN GARCIA
Ryan Garcia fulfilled his mandatory defense on September 12, 2026, defeating Conor Benn, and is now eligible to make a voluntary defense. Potential bouts in the division include an interim title fight between top-ranked Souleymane Cissokho and Alberto Puello. In addition, Arnold Barboza and Oscar Duarte will meet in January for the WBC Silver belt.
SUPER WELTERWEIGHT | SEBASTIAN FUNDORA
Sebastian Fundora fulfilled his mandatory defense on October 17, 2026, defeating Ermal Hadribeaj. The champion has a unification bout against Jaron “Boots” Ennis in his sights. Brandon Adams, the division’s No. 1 contender, will fight on January 23, 2027, aiming to challenge for the interim title left vacant after Vergil Ortiz Jr. moved up to middleweight.
MIDDLEWEIGHT | CARLOS ADAMES
Carlos Adames will take part in a bout with no title on the line on November 17. If he loses, the WBC world title will become vacant. If he wins, he must immediately face mandatory challenger Meiirim Nursultanov. The winner of that bout will subsequently have to face interim champion Jesús Ramos Jr.
SUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT | SAÚL “CANELO” ÁLVAREZ
Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez, who entered the bout as the mandatory challenger, captured the WBC world title on October 31, 2026, defeating then-champion Christian Mbilli. During the session, interim champion Lester Martínez formally requested the opportunity to face Álvarez.
LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT | WILLY HUTCHINSON
Willy Hutchinson won the vacant title on November 7, 2026, defeating Joshua Buatsi, and has two mandatory defenses pending. The WBC reaffirmed its support for former undisputed champion Artur Beterbiev, who has not fought in more than two years. A four-man tournament involving Beterbiev, Imam Khataev, Ben Whittaker and Radivoje Kalajdzic was proposed during the session. Beterbiev’s representatives stated that the boxer rules out facing Khataev, whom he considers a brother in faith and a childhood friend. The proposal remains under negotiation.
CRUISERWEIGHT | MICHAL CIESLAK
Michal Cieslak will face David Benavidez, the WBA and WBO champion, on December 5, 2026, in a unification bout. The Board of Governors also approved Jai Opetaia’s request to be placed at No. 1 in the WBC rankings after he vacated the WBA regular title he had recently won.
BRIDGERWEIGHT | RYAD MERHY
Ryad Merhy will defend his WBC world title against Australia’s Kris Terzievski in a mandatory bout scheduled for May 2027 in Belgium.
HEAVYWEIGHT | AGIT KABAYEL
Agit Kabayel is scheduled to make a voluntary defense against Nelson Hysa on November 28, 2026. If victorious, his objective will be to pursue unification bouts in the heavyweight division.
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