The World Boxing Association Championships Committee on Thursday ordered the negotiations between the Japanese Ryoichi Taguchi and the Colombian Robert Barrera to fight for the WBA Light Flyweight belt.

According to rule 11 of the WBA World Championships Regulations, a new Champion has 120 days to have a mandatory match. In the case of the Japanese, who won the title on December 31st, 2014, he had his last mandatory defense on August 31st, 2016, and his deadline for another mandatory defense is due on May 30th.

For this reason, both parties have a period of 30 days to reach an agreement, or the fight will be called for purse bids.