Chris Billam-Smith appears to be set for a voluntary title defense before he is ordered to face his mandatory contender.

BoxingScene.com has confirmed that the reigning WBO cruiserweight titlist is due to put his belt on the line in early December. The frontrunner to land the assignment is Poland’s Mateusz Masternak, who has reportedly signed to challenge for the title according to Ring Polska.

Billam-Smith (18-1, 12KOs) won the title in a twelve-round decision over 201-6 Olympian and previously unbeaten titlist Lawrence Okolie on May 27 in his hometown of Bournemouth, England. There were talks of a rematch between the former training stablemates, though Masternak has since emerged as the likely candidate to face the 33-year-old Brit.

It was acknowledged during the WBO convention that Billam-Smith was permitted to advance with the voluntary title fight. His mandatory will be due after that, with countryman Richard Riakporhe presently the top ranked cruiserweight.

Both boxers presently fight under the BOXXER banner. Riakporhe beat Billiam-Smith via ten-round, split decision in a July 2019 matchup of unbeaten prospects at The O2 in L

Masternak (47-5, 31KOs) has won six in a row since an October 2018 points loss to Yuniel Dorticos in their World Boxing Super Series cruiserweight tournament quarterfinal matchup in Orlando, Florida. The 36-year-old Pole has not fought since a twelve-round, unanimous decision over previously unbeaten Jason Whateley last October 29 in Zakopane, Poland.

The year-plus long layoff ahead of his potential first career title fight is in part due to his being pulled from a mandatory title challenge versus lineal/IBF cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia. The matter was due to head to a purse bid before his team pulled him from the bout, with the belief at the time that he was next in line to face Billam-Smith in October.

It was acknowledged during the WBO convention that Billam-Smith was permitted to advance with the voluntary title fight. His mandatory will be due after that, with countryman Richard Riakporhe presently the top ranked cruiserweight.

Both boxers presently fight under the BOXXER banner. Riakporhe beat Billiam-Smith via ten-round, split decision in a July 2019 matchup of unbeaten prospects at The O2 in London. Billam-Smith has won nine straight since that night.

Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox