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Key points
- The WBO has ordered Shakur Stevenson and Raymond Muratalla to negotiate a mandatory title defence
- The parties have 20 days to reach terms, with a formal notice to follow
- Muratalla vacated his IBF lightweight belt last month and is the WBO number one contender
- Stevenson’s options are to fight Muratalla or vacate the belt, and a purse bid could follow if talks fail
A proposed Dalton Smith vs Shakur Stevenson fight at Hillsborough has been complicated after the WBO ordered the American to negotiate a mandatory title defence against Raymond Muratalla.
Smith and promoter Eddie Hearn have discussed a Sheffield stadium unification fight, but Stevenson now has an outstanding obligation to the WBO’s number one-ranked contender.
The order creates another issue to resolve before a Smith fight could be agreed. It does not automatically end the possibility of the two champions meeting.
What has the WBO ordered Stevenson to do?
WBO president Gustavo Olivieri announced that the organisation’s World Championships Committee had unanimously ordered negotiations between Stevenson and Muratalla.
“The parties shall have 20 days to reach terms, pursuant to WBO Regulations,” he said in a statement reproduced by Boxing News.
That period is for agreeing the terms of a mandatory defence of Stevenson’s super-lightweight title. It is not a deadline for staging the contest.
No date or venue has been announced for Stevenson against Muratalla.
Dalton Smith vs Shakur Stevenson: where does that leave Hillsborough?
Smith wants to bring a major world title fight to Sheffield Wednesday’s stadium after retaining his WBC belt against Alberto Puello on Saturday.
Hearn has identified Stevenson as a potential opponent for a unification contest, while Smith has spoken about his ambition to headline at Hillsborough. Read our report on Smith’s stadium plans and Hearn’s interest in Stevenson.
Smith holds the WBC title at 140 pounds and Stevenson holds the WBO belt. A meeting with both titles at stake would therefore be a unification fight.
The WBO’s published championship regulations allow its committee to modify or extend a champion’s mandatory obligation for reasons including participation in a unification bout.
The committee also has the authority to sanction a unification contest as a mandatory title bout. Any such decision rests with the WBO; Smith’s status as WBC champion does not automatically override the Muratalla order.
Why Raymond Muratalla is in position for a title shot
Muratalla vacated his IBF lightweight title in September after deciding to move up from the 135-pound division.
He said he could no longer make the lightweight limit safely The WBO ranked him first at super-lightweight
His last fight was a unanimous-decision win over Robson Conceicao on 1 August. The scorecards were 119-109, 119-109 and 118-110, as
That victory took Muratalla to 25-0 with 17 knockouts. He had also successfully defended his lightweight title against Andy Cruz.
Stevenson is unbeaten at 25-0 with 11 knockouts. He won the WBO and Ring titles at 140 pounds by beating Teofimo Lopez on 31 January and has since parted ways with Zuffa Boxing.
Could Stevenson and Muratalla go to purse bids?
If the camps cannot agree, the WBO president may order a purse bid under the same championship regulations.
Eligible promoters would then bid for the right to stage the contest. A failure to reach terms during negotiations does not, by itself, mean Stevenson immediately loses his title.
Dalton Smith vs Shakur Stevenson: your questions answered
Will Dalton Smith fight Shakur Stevenson?
No agreement has been announced. Smith and Hearn have expressed interest, but Stevenson now has a WBO order to negotiate with Muratalla.
Does the Muratalla order rule out a Smith fight?
No. WBO rules allow the committee to consider changes to mandatory obligations for unification fights, but approval is not automatic.
Is a Hillsborough fight confirmed?
No date or opponent has been confirmed for Smith at Hillsborough.
How long do Stevenson and Muratalla have to agree?
Olivieri announced a 20-day negotiation period. A purse bid could follow if the camps cannot reach terms.
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How this article was produced
This article was dave.sport’s AI writer, from the before publication. Our AI writer covers TV guides, line-ups, match reports and post-match reaction from official match data and attributedd and signed off by a journalist. Our Editors, Jack Shaw and Matt Price, oversee everything we publish. How we use AI
Verification status
What each status means.
Sources (5)
- Shakur Stevenson given 20 day deadline for fight against former world champion or risks losing title(Boxing News, 27 Oct 2026)
- WBO Orders Shakur Stevenson To Negotiate Raymond Muratalla Fight(Boxing News 24/7, 27 Oct 2026)
- <a href="https://www.boxing247.com/boxing-news/shakur-stevenson-backed-into-a-corner-over-raymond-muratalla-wbo-order/310908″ rel=”nofollow noopener” target=”_blank”>Shakur Stevenson Backed Into A Corner Over Raymond Muratalla WBO Order(Boxing News 24/7, 26 Oct 2026)
- Ryan Garcia believes Stevenson-Muratalla bout could go either way(The Ring, 25 Apr 2026)
- Shakur Stevenson stops Jamel Herring to win the WBO super-featherweight title(BBC Sport, 24 Oct 2021)
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