The World Boxing Association Championships Committee has officially ordered a mandatory lightweight championship bout between titleholder Gervonta Davis and top-ranked contender Floyd Schofield.
The sanctioning body issued the order on Saturday, May 23, 2026, establishing a 30-day negotiation window that concludes on June 22.
>>> Gabriel Landeskog Uses AI Insoles to Monitor Knee Injury Recovery
Both promotional camps received formal notification to broker an agreement before the deadline, according to the WBA.
Mandatory Defense Overdue
Under WBA Championship Rule C. 10, non-heavyweight champions must defend their titles every nine months.
Davis's mandatory defense is significantly overdue; he last fought on March 1, 2025, fighting to a majority draw against Lamont Roach.
Rule C.
13 also restricts a champion from fighting any other boxer within 60 days following the expiration of the mandatory defense period.
If the two camps fail to reach an agreement or decline to negotiate, the WBA maintains the authority to initiate a purse bid under its official regulations.
Preliminary discussions between the respective teams and Premier Boxing Champions had already commenced prior to the formal sanctioning order, as reported by boxing247.
>>> Vegas Golden Knights Sweep Avalanche, Reach Stanley Cup Final
com. Negotiations are currently focusing on financial terms and contract distribution.
"Trust me, they are on that phone already," said Floyd Schofield Sr., trainer and father of the challenger, to FightHype.
The trainer indicated that Davis has not declined the matchup, shifting the dialogue toward meeting specific financial expectations.
"Tank didn't say that he didn't want this fight," Schofield Sr. said.
The challenger's camp is awaiting the formal bout agreements. "We are waiting on the contract," he added.
Schofield, 23, holds an undefeated record of 19-0 with 13 KOs, representing a significant step up in competition.
>>> Shohei Ohtani Leads NL MVP Race Despite Hand Injury Scare
Davis, 30-0-1 with 28 KOs, has only competed once in the last 14 months, a period of inactivity that previously caused the WBA to briefly designate him as champion in recess before reinstating his active status.
