The World Boxing Association (WBA) Championships Committee ordered the start of negotiations between the teams behind Ukrainian Artem Dalakian and Thai Shirichai Thaiyen to fight for the body’s Flyweight title, which currently belongs to the European boxer.

This resolution is issued based on article C-12 of the WBA rules, which is about “vacant title defense periods”.

This rule indicates that a boxer who obtains a belt in a fight for a vacant title must make a defense within 120 days from the date the title was obtained.

Thaiyen, third boxer in the WBA ranking at 112 pounds, became the Dalakien’s mandatory contender through a resolution issued by the WBA Championships Committee, which is covered by article C-29 of the body’s rules, that indicates that a mandatory challenger in each weight division can be selected by the body or through an eliminatory bout.

In addition, it clarifies that the selection may be subject to conditions and that, generally, the highest rated boxer in the division is named.

For this reason, the WBA Championships Committee gave a period of 30 days, as of February 26th, to reach an agreement. If no agreement is reached, the fight will be called to a purse bid. Both parties were duly notified.

IN OTHER NEWS: Boston Boxing Promotions has announced the first fight scheduled for its card on Saturday, April 28, 2018 at the Castleton Banquet and Conference Center in Windham, New Hampshire.  It features a pair of undefeated fighters putting their unblemished records on the line.

In a four-round welterweight fight, Haverhill, Massachusetts' "Irish" Tommy O'Connell will meet up with Maine's Bruce "Pretty Boy" Boyington in an all-New England clash.

O'Connell made his pro debut at the Castleton in Windham this past January earning a hard fought unanimous decision over New York's Bryan Abraham. Now, the former standout on the basketball court at North Andover High School and United States Coast Guard veteran will step up in level of opposition against Boyington, a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, who is undefeated in the boxing ring and a former regional champion in the mixed-martial-arts cage.