The WBC look likely to now order Shakur Stevenson vs Vasyl Lomachenko for their vacant lightweight world title.
Following a lengthy process to decide his next fight, undisputed lightweight world champion Devin Haney has chosen to move up and challenge WBC super-lightweight world champion Regis Prograis next, rather than defend against mandatory challenger Stevenson.
Haney hoped to retain all of his lightweight belts despite moving up, but the WBC have instead moved him to 'champion-in-recess' status.
This means that the world title is now vacant and Haney will be able to challenge for it again if he moves back down to lightweight after the Prograis fight.
In the meantime, the WBC will order Stevenson to face the 'highest available contender' for the vacant WBC lightweight world title.
At present, Lomachenko is next in the rankings as he retained his number one spot after his close decision defeat to Haney in May.
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The WBC's full statement read: "The World Boxing Council received several different communications including requests concerning its lightweight and super-lightweight divisions.
"The WBC Board of Governors has carefully considered those requests and has arrived at the ruling set forth herein.
"WBC lightweight world champion Devin Haney petitioned to fight WBC super-lightweight world champion Regis Prograis.
"Champion Haney wished to remain as WBC lightweight world champion until after his fight with Prograis takes place, at which point he would decide in what division he would remain.
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"The WBC mandatory challenger in the lightweight division is Shakur Stevenson.
"The WBC Board of Governors voted in favour of: (1) granting Haney’s petition to fight Champion Prograis for the WBC super-lightweight world championship.
"(2) Placing Haney as 'champion-in-recess' in the lightweight division.
"(3) Ordering a bout between lightweight mandatory challenger Shakur Stevenson and the highest available contender in that division.
"(4) After fighting Prograis, allowing Haney to choose between remaining at 135lbs or 140lbs on a timetable that the WBC would order.
"(5) If Haney decides to return to the lightweight division within that timetable, the WBC would order the fight between Haney and the then world champion on a 50/50 basis under the provisions that the WBC rules and regulations may provide for those situations."
If Lomachenko turns down the opportunity or goes in a different direction, then next in line in the WBC rankings to fight Stevenson would be Isaac Cruz, William Zepeda and Frank Martin.
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