The WBA, through its Championships Committee, has ordered a mandatory heavyweight title bout between regular champion Kubrat Pulev and WBA #1 contender Moses Itauma. [Oleksandr Usyk, the true world heavyweight champion, is recognized as the WBA super champion]. The WBA a formal communication to both Pu;ev's and Itauma's camps on Tuesday, October 14th, granting them a thirty-day negotiation period, which will conclude on November 14th. The decision follows a series of procedural events related to the previous award of promotional rights for a bout between Pulev and Michael Hunter, initially granted to Don King Productions on May 27, 2025.

Pulev later filed a Request for Reconsideration in accordance with WBA regulations, which was denied on June 23rd. His team then submitted an appeal on June 30th, but it was dismissed on July 23rd for being filed outside the regulatory deadline. Subsequently, Pulev elevated the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), filing an official appeal on August 1st. During the CAS process, Hunter informed the WBA that he had reached an agreement to face Jarrell Miller in September, making him unavailable for the mandated fight against Pulev.

On August 19th, the WBA and Pulev’s representatives reached an amicable settlement, and the CAS proceedings were formally closed on August 22nd at the request of both parties. As part of that settlement, the WBA released Pulev from his previous obligation to face Hunter and canceled the associated purse bid. The organization also allowed Pulev to make a voluntary defense against any available contender within a reasonable timeframe. However, since no such defense was arranged or announced, the Championships Committee has now issued a new mandatory ruling.

Therefore, the WBA has ordered Pulev to make a mandatory title defense against Itauma, and if no agreement is reached by the Nov. 14th deadline, the Championships Committee reserves the right to call a purse bid in accordance with the organization’s established rules.