Josh Taylor order to face his WBC mandatory next
Undisputed super-lightweight champion Josh Taylor (19-0, 13KOs) has been ordered to face his mandatory challenger Jose Zepeda (35-2, 27KOs) next.
The two camps have a month to agree terms or purse bids will be called.
The World Boxing Council released the following statement on April 28:
WBC super lightweight division status:
As per prior communications and with the agreement which all four presidents (WBC-WBO-IBF-WBA) confirmed in the meeting held in Puerto Rico, the WBC mandatory defense is next, followed by the IBF.
The WBC is hereby advising of the beginning of the free negotiations period for the Josh Taylor's mandatory title defense versus Jose Zepeda.
If no agreement is reached the WBC will conduct a purse bid on Tuesday, May 24th, 2022.
"Chon" Zepeda will be already familiar to British boxing fans as the man Terry Flanagan defeated in 2015 to become WBO World lightweight champion. The pair fought on a Frank Warren show in Manchester and the Californian remained on his stool after round two had concluded, unable to go back out with a dislocated shoulder.
The 32-year-old has challenged for the WBC super-lightweight title before, in 2019, but he was narrowly defeated on a mixed decision by the champion Jose Carlos Ramirez, who Taylor beat in 2021 to become undisputed. Trained by Freddie Roach, the souhpaw bounced back to win his last five fights, winning the WBC Silver title and claiming the No.1 position in the WBC rankings.
It's unclear if Taylor will accept the challenge as many believed he would vacate the belts to move up a division following his underpar performance in his last fight with Jack Catterall. The split decision win in his favour left fight fans reeling at the result and calling or the immediate rematch. During the fight, Taylor was cut on his left eye, floored in the eighth, deducted a point in the 11th, outboxed for a majority of the rounds yet still somehow was awarded the win and able to retain his belts.
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