Following Hamzah Sheeraz’s decision to relinquish his WBO world title rather than face mandatory challenger Janibek Alimkhanuly, a fight has now been agreed for the vacant belt.

Sheeraz made the decision to drop the belt shortly after his promoter, Queensberry Promotions, successfully won the purse bids to stage the mandated defence.

The withdrawal, which came after the Brit expressed grievances over Janibek’s failed doping test last year, forced the WBO to pivot quickly and move down its rankings, and formally instructed Alimkhanuly to face undefeated contender Jacob Bank for the vacant strap.

Today, the sanctioning body’s President, Gustavo Olivieri, released the following statement confirming that both parties have reached an agreement.

“The WBO is pleased to confirm receipt of formal written notification from Team Zhanibek Alimkhanuly and Team Jacob Bank that the parties have reached terms to contest the vacant WBO Super Middleweight World Championship. Further details will be announced in due course.”

Alimkhanuly has long claimed to be one of the sport’s most avoided fighters. The Kazakh southpaw built a fearsome reputation at middleweight, unifying titles with his punishing, heavy-handed style.

Before a highly-anticipated unification with Carlos Adames late last year, he tested positive for the banned substance meldonium. He was stripped by the IBF, but the WBO’s decision to immediately install him as mandatory challenger at super-middleweight infuriated Sheeraz, who branded it ‘corrupt.’

Now standing in the 33-year-old’s way of becoming a two-division champion is undefeated Dane Jacob Bank. The 25-year-old has quietly climbed the WBO rankings to build a flawless 20-0 record, largely operating on the European circuit where he notably stopped previously unbeaten contender William Scull earlier this year.

As for Sheeraz, news on his next bout – understood to be the final in his current contract with Queensberry – is expected soon.

The expected timings for Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua’s highly anticipated heavyweight boxing clash have been revealed.

The bout – one of the biggest in British boxing history – is set to take place at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff on 11 December.

An application to Cardiff Council revealed the ring walk is planned to start at around 01:00 GMT after a short live music performance, and the stadium will remain open until 03:30.

Despite the choice of venue being confirmed in September, required changes to its premises licence to allow the early-hours fight to go ahead have yet to be secured.

The application comes after the contest – more than a decade in the making – was confirmed after several days of uncertainty.

In a bid to obtain the necessary permissions, Millennium Stadium Plc has applied to the council to extend timings at the venue “on a very limited one-off occasion”.

The application seeks to extend permitted hours for boxing and wrestling entertainment from an existing cut off of 01:00 to 03:00 on 12 December.

The council said this was to facilitate “the proposed Anthony Joshua v Tyson Fury bout, with the ring walk commencing at 01:00”.

The licence variation seeks an extension to play live music until 03:00 on the same date, with a short live performance immediately before the ring walk.

It also proposes an extension for recorded music, late-night refreshment and the supply of alcohol until 03:00, with the stadium closing time being moved to 03:30.

The applicants added that the roof would be shut throughout the event, and enhanced security and stewarding arrangements would be in place.