The World Boxing Association (WBA) Championship Committee has officially ordered a mandatory showdown for the bantamweight title between reigning champion Seiya Tsutsumi and interim titleholder Antonio Vargas, the division’s official challenger.

The WBA issued the formal notice to both camps this Wednesday, granting them a 30-day negotiation window that began on March 25 and will run until April 25.

According to Championship Rule C.10, a reigning champion must defend his title against the next available mandatory challenger within 120 days of winning the belt. Tsutsumi claimed the WBA bantamweight crown on October 12, 2024, meaning his mandatory defense deadline passed on January 11 of this year. As a result, his next bout must be against Vargas.

Both teams must now enter negotiations to finalize the fight. If an agreement isn’t reached within the 30-day timeframe, the WBA Championship Committee reserves the right to send the bout to a purse bid.