WBC orders Stevenson-Alvarez

WBC light heavyweight champion Adonis Stevenson (28-1, 23 KOs) is now on the clock to begin negotiating a deal to face mandatory challenger Eleider Alvarez (22-0, 11 KOs), reports RingTV. The two will have until March 24 to strike a deal for the fight, otherwise the fight will head to purse bid at WBC headquarters in Mexico City.

Sources tell RingTV that Stevenson, 39, had been tentatively scheduled to open up the renovated Nassau Coliseum in New York on April 29 (with Long Island’s Seanie Monaghan targeted as a potential opponent), but that situation is said to be extremely fluid.

Now, with the WBC’s new mandate, it’s anyone’s guess how Stevenson will elect to move forward. Stevenson’s promoter Yvon Michel has yet to clarify his fighter’s next move while promoter Lou DiBella (who has a hold on the venue for April 29) declined to comment.

Eleider Alvarez, 32, earned his mandatory challenger position by knocking out Lucian Bute in five rounds last Friday.