Mauricio Sulaiman reaffirms mandatory obligations for Tony Bellew and Adonis Stevenson

The word "mandatory" is pretty clear-cut, but it turns out it’s actually pretty flexible in the world of boxing. As such, WBC Grand Poobah Mauricio Suleiman spoke with World Boxing News today about the obligations facing cruiserweight champion Tony Bellew and light heavyweight champion Adonis Stevenson.

In short, Bellew (27-2-1, 17 KO) must face Mairis Breidis (20-0, 17 KO) after his October showdown with BJ Flores, while Stevenson (28-1, 23 KO) has to take on Eleider Alvarez (20-0, 10 KO) by year’s end.

Breidis has been the WBC mandatory since May, when he punished Olanrewaju Durodola over nine rounds. Alvarez, meanwhile, has been waiting since his decision over Isaac Chilemba last November. Bellew has been busy with Flores and Stevenson took a voluntary bout with Thomas Williams Jr. last month.

Both potential fights should be excellent; Briedis’ brutal knockout of Manuel Charr and his win over Durodola have him pegged as a tremendous fighter to watch and, while Alvarez hasn’t exactly lit the world on fire, he’s a capable light heavyweight who’s earned a crack at the big time.

The lesson here is that it sucks to be Grigory Drozd.