The WBC has approved an interim world featherweight title bout. The fight between No. 1 ranked Bruce Carrington (USA, 15-0, 9 KOs) and No. 13 ranked Mateus Heita (Namibia, 14-0, 9 KOs) will take place on July 26 (July 27 Japan time) at the Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York, as part of a Top Rank promotion.
The co-main event that day will feature a bout for the vacant WBO World Super Welterweight Title between No. 1 ranked Xander Zayas (Puerto Rico, 21-0, 13 KOs) and No. 2 ranked Jorge Garcia Perez (Mexico, 33-4, 26 KOs).
The event will be broadcast on ESPN and ESPN+, and will mark the final show under Top Rank’s broadcasting contract with ESPN, as the deal will not be renewed.
On the undercard, NABF Junior Super Lightweight Champion Emiliano Vargas (USA, 14-0, 12 KOs), son of former WBA & IBF World Super Welterweight Champion Fernando Vargas, will face Alexander Espinoza (Ecuador, 20-3-1, 9 KOs).
In the WBC featherweight division, Bruce Carrington earned his title shot by defeating Enrique Vivas (Mexico, 23-4, 12 KOs) via third-round TKO in a title eliminator held on March 29 (March 30 Japan time) at the Fontainebleau in Las Vegas.
Top Rank had expected the WBC to order a mandatory title fight between champion Stephen Fulton (USA, 23-1, 8 KOs) and Carrington. However, the WBC instead mandated that Fulton face the WBC featherweight “champion in recess” Rey Vargas (Mexico, 36-1-1, 22 KOs).
However, Fulton is reportedly planning to move up in weight to challenge WBC World Super Featherweight Champion O’Shaquie Foster (USA, 23-3, 12 KOs). The bout is expected to be part of the August 16 (August 17 Japan time) event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, headlined by the rematch between WBA World Lightweight Champion Gervonta Davis (USA, 30-0-1, 28 KOs) and WBA World Super Featherweight Champion Lamont Roach (USA, 25-1-2, 10 KOs).
Brad Goodman, Top Rank’s Hall of Fame matchmaker, who is pushing for the Fulton vs. Foster fight, had been lobbying the WBC to have Carrington fight for the interim title rather than prioritizing a mandatory bout between Carrington and Vargas.
In any case, the winner of Carrington vs. Heita is expected to be ordered to face Fulton—if Fulton remains at featherweight after his bout with Foster. However, given the presence of “champion in recess” Rey Vargas, who has only fought five times since July 2019, it is more likely that the interim champion will first be required to face Vargas.
Top Rank’s contract with ESPN has come to an end and will not be renewed, but there is anticipation for what lies ahead.
This article has been translated and published with permission from BOXING MASTER.
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