WBO Orders Shakur Stevenson to Defend 140-Pound Title Against Raymond Muratalla

Shakur Stevenson's free agency now comes with a deadline. The WBO on Tuesday ordered its junior welterweight champion to open negotiations for a mandatory defense against No. 1 contender Raymond Muratalla.

WBO president Gustavo Olivieri announced the move Tuesday morning. He wrote that the WBO World Championships Committee "unanimously resolved to order the commencement of negotiations" between Stevenson and Muratalla "in fulfillment of the outstanding mandatory championship obligation." The two camps have 20 days to reach terms under WBO rules, and Olivieri said the formal negotiation notice will be issued shortly.

The Ring, which also recognizes Stevenson as its champion, confirmed the order minutes later, reporting that Stevenson has been told to defend the 140-pound title against Muratalla next. If the sides can't make a deal inside the 20-day window, the fight would be headed for a purse bid, with the winning promoter buying the rights.

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The order didn't come out of nowhere. Overnight, Dan Rafael reported in his newsletter that Muratalla was pressing the WBO to order the mandatory against Stevenson, whom Rafael described as a free agent who could once again work with Top Rank.

Stevenson has been a free agent since he asked out of his Zuffa Boxing deal and got his release without ever fighting for the company. He hasn't fought since Jan. 31 at Madison Square Garden. Now the sanctioning body has put a name and a clock on his next defense.

What comes next depends on Stevenson. He can negotiate a deal with Muratalla's side, let the fight go to a purse bid, or give up the WBO belt to chase a different fight. Boxbid will update this story when the formal order is published or either camp responds.

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