WBA orders Akhmadaliev to defend vs. Rios

Source: WBA

08/04/2021

WBA orders Akhmadaliev to defend vs. Rios

The WBA ordered its 122-pound champion, Murodjon Akhmadaliev (pictured) of Uzbekistan to make a the mandatory defense against Ronny Rios of the United States. [Akhmadaliev also holds the IBF championship, so he has more leverage to choose another fight if he so wishes]. According to the WBA, Akhmadaliev’s mandatory became due on January 29th, but the WBA allowed the champion to make his IBF mandatory defense against Japanese Ryosuke Iwasa last weekend. The WBA granted the teams the normal thirty days for negotiations starting on April 6th. This period will end on May 6th, and if no deal has yet been made, theWBA may call for purse bids to determine the promotional rights of the fight.