WBA Orders Hiroto Kyoguchi vs. Esteban Bermudez Showdown

The association has instructed both involved promotional bodies – Matchroom Boxing and Greg Cohen Promotions, to begin negotiations for the fight within the next 30 days.

According to the WBO, Kyoguchi should have defended his strap before September 30, 2020. On March 13, he made a voluntary defense against Axel Aragon Vega, but that doesn’t full the WBA rules.

The association has affirmed that the Japanese champion cannot take on a boxer who’s different from the mandatory challenger. This rule is applied within 60 days after the expiration of the mandatory defense period, which began on June 10 and will conclude on July 11.

In case no agreement is reached between the parties, the WBO has the right call the fight to a purse bid. This means that a purse split of 65% will be there for Kyoguchi and 35% for Bermudez.

Matchroom Sport, which is headed by Eddie Hearn, has been trying to get Kyoguchi to fight WBO champ Elwin Soto. It will be interesting to see how their push will play out after the WBO’s order was made public.