The World Boxing Association (WBA) Championships Committee has ordered the mandatory bout between Lithuanian welterweight world champion Eimantas Stanionis and official challenger Shakhram Giyasov. 

The communication was officially sent to both parties on September 19 and they were given 30 days to negotiate the fight, which will end on October 19. 

The championship rule C.10 states that a champion must defend the title against the next available contender within nine (9) months from the date he won the title. In the case of Stanionis, he won it on 15 April 2022 so the time limit for his next mandatory fight expired on 14 January 2023, and he must face Giyasov.

On the other hand, WBA Rule C.13 – Fighting Limitations – states that the champion cannot fight a boxer who is not the official challenger within sixty (60) days after the expiration of the mandatory defence period.

If the teams of both boxers cannot reach an agreement within the given period or if either party refuses to negotiate, the WBA may open the fight to purse bid pursuant it’s rules and regulations and with the purse split of 75% for the champion and 25% for the challenger.