Oubaali, Donaire, Rodriguez - WBC Clarifies Status of Bantamweight Division
By BoxingScene Staff
Published On Wed Nov 25, 2020, 07:52 PM EST
World Boxing Council President Mauricio Sulaiman has issued an official order pertaining to the bantamweight division.
WBC bantamweight champion Nordine Oubaali was scheduled to make a mandatory defense of his title on December 19, in a Shotwime televised main event against Nonito Donaire.
Due to Oubaali’s positive COVID-19 test result in late October, he was pulled from the fight and the WBC placed Oubaali under the status of 'Champion In-Recess' and approved a bout between Donaire and number four rated Emmanuel Rodriguez for the title.
Found Below Is The WBC's Order On The Bantamweight Division
1. As WBC World Champion In Recess, Champion Oubaali is, remains and will remain WBC World Champion.
2. Champion Oubaali now enjoys the designation of WBC World Champion “In-Recess.” That designation in no way diminishes the WBC’s recognition, or Champion Oubaali’s status, as WBC World Champion. In fact, the World Champion In-Recess designation elevates his status to a higher level by conferring to Champion Oubaali additional privileges he did not enjoy before.
a. Champion Oubaali will not have a pre-set deadline to return to the ring without losing his World Champion Status. Instead, his return will be driven by the WBC’s and the local commission’s specific medical requirements for cases like his.
b. Champion Oubaali will return to the ring as the fully recognized returning WBC World Champion and will be allowed, if he so chooses, to make a defense of his title in a voluntary contest, to get back in the ring and prepare for the mandatory fight.
3. With respect to Champion Oubaali’s future mandatory bout with the winner of the Donaire vs. Rodriguez bout, consistent with the WBC Rules & Regulations, the WBC will start a new free negotiations period. If the parties do not come to an agreement within that period, then the WBC will schedule a new purse offer ceremony, with a purse split stipulation of 60/40 in favor of Champion Oubaali.
4. If Champion Oubaali chooses to make a voluntary defense in February of 2021, then the winner of Donaire vs. Rodriguez must fight Champion Oubaali without any intervening bout (assuming Champion Oubaali wins his voluntary defense). If for any reason, Champion Oubaali requests a date after February of 2021 to make a voluntary defense, then the WBC will evaluate the timing of the mandatory bout to make sure that Champion Oubaali will be available to fight within the same timeframe as the winner of the Donaire vs. Rodriguez bout.
