Shakur Stevenson has been ordered to fulfil the first mandatory defence of his WBO super-lightweight world title.

The Newark southpaw moved up from lightweight – subsequently being stripped of his WBC belt in that division – to face Teofimo Lopez back in January.

Stevenson put on a boxing masterclass to become just the second man to beat Lopez and a four-division world champion.

He has since signed with, and been released from, Zuffa Boxing, while targeting fights with the likes of Devin Haney, Gary Antuanne Russell and Manny Pacquiao.

Fresh off his free agency – a decision he says he made in order to secure the biggest and best fights in the sport – Stevenson has now been ordered to face Raymond Muratalla.

Muratalla vacated his IBF lightweight belt last month, having been upgraded from interim to full champion in June 2025. He defended the belt against Andy Cruz and Robson Conceicao before making the decision to move up.

Promoter Top Rank recently lobbied the WBO to install the Robert Garcia-trained fighter as mandatoryand President of the sanctioning body, Gustavo Olivieri, has now confirmed the decision.

“Please be advised that the WBO World Championships Committee has unanimously resolved to order the commencement of negotiations between WBO Jr. Welterweight World Champion Shakur Stevenson and WBO #1 World-Rated Contender Raymond Muratalla, in fulfillment of the outstanding mandatory championship obligation.

“The parties shall have 20 days to reach terms, pursuant to WBO Regulations.

“This determination reaffirms our institutional commitment to the consistent enforcement of mandatory championship obligations, competitive fairness, & the integrity of our World Championships.

“The formal negotiation order notice will be issued shortly.”

The ball is now in Stevenson’s court, with his immediate options being face the undefeated mandatory or vacate the belt.

Following his loss to Ryan Garcia, Conor Benn said that he was taking a break from the sport to spend time with his family.

The 30-year-old Brit dropped back down to the welterweight division for the first time in four years to challenge for Garcia’s WBC belt.

He was stopped inside two roundsending the dream of holding the green and gold belt at 147lbs.

In the aftermath, Benn said he did not know what was coming next.

“Everybody keeps asking “What’s next for Conor Benn?”

The truth is, I don’t have the answer … Giving everything comes at a cost. And the people who have paid that cost more than anyone are my family and my kids.

They’ve sacrificed time with their Dad so I could chase this dream. They’ve had to share me with this sport their entire lives.

So when people ask me what’s next for Conor Benn, right now the answer is simple. Time with my kids.”

While a 2027 return at middleweight before a potential trilogy bout with Chris Eubank Jr seems the most likely course, Benn has today revealed that he would be all in it offered a fight against Conor McGregor.

Responding to a fan-made poster for the fight, the former world title challenger said:

“Any day of the week.”

Former two-weight UFC world champion McGregor has boxed professionally just once – a 2017 loss to Floyd Mayweather – though has never ruled out a return to the ring.

Following his loss to Max Holloway earlier this year, the Irishman has one fight left in his contract with the UFC, though Benn’s contract with Zuffa Boxing – also headed by Dana White – could potentially make the fight viable.

Canelo Alvarez attempts to recapture the WBC super-middleweight title against Christian Mbilli on Saturday, and esteemed fight analyst and commentator Teddy Atlas has provided his verdict for the contest.

Both Canelo and Mbilli will enter the bout off the back of a 13-month inactive spell, with each man’s last fight coming in September 2025, when Canelo lost his undisputed title to Terence Crawford and Mbilli appeared on the undercard.

Since then, Crawford’s retirement has seen Mbilli elevated to WBC super-middleweight champion, whilst Alvarez’s elbow injury has prevented him from challenging for world honours until now.

Discussing the clash, on ‘The Fight’Atlas believes that Canelo must hurt Mbilli early to have the best chance of reclaiming his old belt, comparing the French-Cameroonian champion to heavyweight legend Joe Frazier.

“I think that Canelo can hurt him early. He has to hurt him early. I think that the reason they took this fight is because I don’t think they are thinking about winning a decision, I think that they are thinking about, ‘We have got to knock this guy out and we have got a chance to do it.’

“That is my breakdown. If you don’t do it, this guy is Smokin’ Joe Frazier at a lighter weight than Joe Frazier was, at heavyweight, but of course Joe Frazier punched harder.”

Atlas continued by saying Mbilli may be able to wear Canelo down and secure an iconic stoppage win during the latter stages of the affair.

“I think that he [Mbilli] could break him [Canelo] down late in the fight with body attack, mixing in the mix, Canelo is 36 years old and almost 70 fights. I think that there is a possibility that he could just start to wear him down and win in that way. It doesn’t have to be with one punch or anything like that.

“With Mbilli, in there with an older guy, it has always been about an accumulation of punches.”

Canelo vs Mbilli takes place on Saturday, as Alvarez attempts to announce himself as the man to beat at 168lbs once again.