By Hilmar Rojas

The World Boxing Association (WBA) has ordered a mandatory fight between their "super" champion at bantamweight, unbeaten Dominican fighter Juan Carlos Payano (17-0, 8KO), and the "regular" of the same division, British boxer Jamie McDonnell (27-2-1, 12KO). Payano is also the world champion at 118-pounds under the IBO.

The parties have 30 days to negotiate. If a deal is not reached, then the two fighters will head to a purse bid. Payano is handled by Premier Boxing Chamions by way of manager/adviser Al Haymon. McDonnell is promoted by Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Sport. There is a close working relationship with Haymon and Hearn so a deal is likely to happen without issues.

Mcdonnell graduated to being a world champion in 2014 after defeating Thai boxer Tabtimdaeng Rachawat and then pulled out as the winner in two very tough battles, in the United States, with former world champion Tomoki Kameda of Japan, who vacated his WBO title to battle for the WBA belt. While Payano got his belt in the same year by defeating longtime world champion Anselmo "Chemito" Moreno by technical decision.

Both parties were notified and presumably know the rules of the WBA. This continues the policy that the World Boxing Association is putting into place in 2016, to reduce the number of world champions in each division.