WBC orders Stevenson vs Martin for lightweight title

The World Boxing Council has ordered Shakur Stevenson and Frank Martin to enter negotiations for a bout that could be for the vacant WBC lightweight world title. This is coming from ESPN’s Mark Kriegel who reported this news on the Top Rank telecast. According to Kriegel, representatives for Stevenson and Martin have started negotiations for this fight to take place, but if an agreement is not reached by September 5th the WBC will call for a purse bid.

Stevenson (20-0, 10 KOs) is currently ranked 8th in The Boxing Source Pound For Pound Rankings. The former WBO featherweight champion and unified super featherweight champion is coming off of a stoppage victory over Shuiciro Yoshino in his hometown of Newark. After that bout, he was vocal about facing Devin Haney next but that fight did not materialize. With news circulating that Haney will move up to super lightweight to fight Regis Prograis, that left Stevenson as the number 2 ranked contender to be matched up with an opponent.

As the current rankings are with the WBC, Vasyl Lomachenko sits at 1 but he plans on sitting out the rest of the year. The fighter ranked at 3 is Isaac Cruz, however he is reported to be in negotiations to face Gervonta Davis later this year.

Martin (18-0, 12 KOs) had a decision win over Artem Harutyunyan in Las Vegas last month. The Detroit-born fighter currently residing in Dallas had a banner year in 2022 with two stoppage wins over Romero Duno and Jackson Marinez, followed up with an impressive victory over then-unbeaten contender Michel Rivera in December.