WBC convention highlights: Big news for Conor Benn, positive update for Jaron Ennis vs. Vergil Ortiz Jr.

The WBC is currently hosting its 63rd annual convention in Bangkok, Thailand, and Wednesday saw the most significant portion of the six-day conference take place. The sanctioning body reviewed the status of all divisions and ordered mandatory fights, interim title bouts and eliminator contests.

At heavyweight, Oleksandr Usyk holds the WBC heavyweight title — as well as the WBA and IBF. Usyk was granted a voluntary defense of his WBC belt, which could take place against Deontay Wilder, as has been heavily rumored this week during the convention. The sanctioning body also ordered Moses Itauma to face Lawrence Okolie in a final eliminator for the title. Agit Kabayel, who holds the interim strap, defends against Damian Knyba on Jan. 10.

Moving down to light heavyweight, David Benavidez's request to retain his WBC light heavyweight title while he moves up to cruiserweight to challenge Gilberto "Zurdo" Ramirez for the WBA and WBO unified championship was granted. In the meantime, the WBC ordered its No. 2 and No. 3 contenders, Joshua Buatsi and Ben Whittaker, to clash in a final eliminator.

Terence Crawford was stripped of his WBC super middleweight title for non-payment of sanctioning fees. As a result, the WBC ordered its interim champion, Christian Mbilli, and its No. 2 contender, Hamzah Sheeraz, to meet for the vacant WBC title. Lester Martinez will be next in line for the Mbilli-Sheeraz winner.

At super welterweight, Sebastian Fundora will defend his WBC title against Keith Thurman next. This could take place on a Jan. 31 Premier Boxing Champions show, sources told Uncrowned.

Golden Boy Promotions, which represents interim champion Vergil Ortiz Jr., confirmed that Ortiz is in talks to face WBA champion Jaron "Boots" Ennis next and that a deal could be made by next week. Bakary Samake was also ordered to fight Ermal Hadribeaj in a title eliminator.

The WBC confirmed that Mario Barrios will defend his WBC welterweight title against Ryan Garcia on Feb. 21. It was ruled that the victor of Barrios vs. Garcia must face the WBC No. 1 contender and mandatory challenger, Conor Benn.

Subriel Matias' explanation — indicating supplement contamination — for his failed drug test for the banned substance ostarine was accepted. Matias will be allowed to proceed with his Jan. 10 defense of the WBC super lightweight title against his mandatory challenger, Dalton Smith. The Matias vs. Smith winner will be ordered to put their belt at stake against Alberto Puello.

Shakur Stevenson will be allowed to keep his WBC lightweight title while he challenges Teofimo Lopez for the WBO super lightweight championship on Jan. 31. The WBC also upgraded the Jadier Herrera vs. Ricardo Nunez bout from a final eliminator to an interim title fight.

Eliminators were confirmed at super featherweight and featherweight. In the former, Michael Magnesi will clash with Mark Magsayo, while in the latter, Nathaniel Collins will rematch Cristobal Lorente. Bruce "Shu Shu" Carrington will also put his WBC interim featherweight title on the line versus Carlos Castro on Jan. 31 in a bout to be announced.

The sanctioning body reiterated plans for a Naoya Inoue vs. Junto Nakatani all-Japan superfight in May 2026 at the Tokyo Dome.

Both Ricardo Sandoval, WBC flyweight champion, and Galal Yafai, WBC interim flyweight champion, were granted voluntary defenses of their belts. The WBC had previously ordered the pair to meet in a mandatory title defense, but that will no longer take place next.