WBO orders Stevenson-Muratalla talks, sets Nov. 16 deadline before purse bid

Shakur Stevenson's first order of business as a free agent is not one he chose. The WBO has told him to negotiate a title defence against its No. 1 contender, Raymond Muratalla, and the clock is already running.

The committee's decision was unanimous, and WBO president Gustavo Olivieri confirmed it. It followed a petition from Top Rank, which Dan Rafael reported on October 24, citing Muratalla's top ranking and Stevenson's inactivity since January. The written notice came later and addresses Top Rank's Bob Arum and Jeremy Koegel, along with Stevenson's manager James Prince and attorney Josh Dubin. Either camp can request a purse bid before the window closes, and the committee can act on that request without waiting for the deadline.

The timing is awkward for Stevenson. He is 25-0 and beat Teofimo Lopez in January to win the WBO belt. Since then, talks with Devin Haney and Gary Antuanne Russell fell through, according to Bad Left Hook, and his Zuffa Boxing deal ended without a fight. White says he offered the release; Stevenson says he asked for it. Stevenson has said he wants the biggest fights at 135 or 140 pounds and is starting his own promotional company. Boxing News says his realistic options are to face Muratalla or vacate.

Muratalla, listed at 25-0 with 17 knockouts by Bad Left Hook, comes up from lightweight. He gave up his IBF belt last month after beating Robson Conceicao on August 1, and he previously beat Andy Cruz. He is trained by Robert Garcia. If talks fail, the matter goes to purse-bid proceedings, where registered promoters bid and the winner controls the date and venue. Under the standing rules, a fight is normally held 45 to 90 days after a bid is awarded.

Watch November 16. A deal would let Stevenson shape the terms himself. A purse bid would hand that control to whichever promoter wins it.