Patrick Teixeira vs Brian Castano purse bid ordered by WBO for Jan. 29

Nearly two months after first ordering the two to go at it, the WBO has scheduled a January 29th purse bid for super welterweight champion Patrick Teixeira’s inaugural title defense against mandatory challenger Brian Castano. The minimum bid is $200,000; Teixeira will receive a 75/25 split if it is held in his native Brazil and an 80/20 split if not.

Teixeira (31-1, 22 KO) went from busted prospect to interim world champion last November when he overpowered favored prospect Carlos Adames in Vegas, riding a seventh-round knockdown to a one-point victory on two scorecards. Around a week later, Jaime Munguia formally vacated his title ahead of his middleweight debut opposite Spike O’Sullivan, Teixeira received full champion status and his first mandatory in Castano (16-0-1, 12 KO).

Teixeira is Brazil’s first world champion since the great “Popo” Freitas lost his lightweight title in 2007.

Castano, a highly decorated amateur, has emerged as Argentina’s strongest pugilistic export since the Maidana-Matthysse-Martinez triumvirate. He defeated Michel Soro and Cedric Vitu in successive WBA title defenses before battling Erislandy Lara to a draw; unfortunately, he ended up vacating his title over a dispute with Soro, whose team had won a purse bid.

He was last seen in November, stopping Wale Omotoso on an injury.