Australia’s Jason Whateley and Mateusz Masternak of Poland have been ordered by the IBF to face each other for the number one position in the ratings. The winner will become the mandatory challenger to the winner of the upcoming clash between IBF cruiserweight champion Mairis Breidis and undefeated challenger Jai Opetaia.

Both sides will have one month to negotiate a deal and if that fails to eventuate, the bout will go to purse bid.

“Ideally we’d love to bring that fight to Australia. Jason is an exciting boxer who is made for TV and Masternak is never in a bad fight himself,” said Michael Francis of Tasman Fighters, Whateley’s promoter. 

Masternak, who possesses an outstanding 46-5 (31 KO) record, is currently ranked 5th by the IBF. Former Olympian and Commonwealth Games silver medalist Whateley is 10-0 (9 KO) and ranked 10th. Both boxers are the highest available contenders within the ratings.

“I’m really excited about the opportunity to face Masternak who has had a great career,” said Whateley.

“I really am looking forward to testing myself against him. I’ve travelled all over the world in the amateurs so if the fight is in Poland, so be it. That said, having it in Australia with our crowd cheering me on would be amazing”.