Below is the latest information on the light heavyweight, cruiserweight and heavyweight classes.
Heavyweight:
Deontay Wilder was the mandatory contender and defeated Bermane Stiverne to claim the title. During 2015, the process began to have the next mandatory, and Alexander Povetkin won the final elimination bout. Eventually the mandated fight was scheduled for May, 2016, but was postponed due to doping problems. Povetkin and Stiverne were ordered to fight a final elimination bout to determine the mandatory. The doping incident cancelled the fight and Stiverne became mandatory contender.
Cruiserweight:
Mairis Breidis won the final elimination bout. Champion Tony Bellew asked for an exemption to fight at heavyweight, and the WBC ordered an interim title which will happen between Breidis and Marco Huck. Bellew will notify the WBC of his plans to return to cruiserweight or remain at heavyweight.
Light heavyweight:
The WBC, in an unprecedented action, agreed to appoint multiple champion Sergey Kovalev to be the mandatory for the WBC champion, forcing the champion to make such a highly anticipated contest. Eventually Kovalev withdrew his position as mandatory contender. Then the process to find a mandatory began again and Eleider Alvarez won a final elimination bout. At the last WBC convention, Alvarez asked for permission to fight Lucian Bute, which was accepted as the final eliminator with the winner fighting champion Adonis Stevenson.
WBN Notes:
HW: Stiverne and Wilder are in free negotiations.
CW: Mairis Briedis fights Marco Huck for the interim belt on April 1. The winner will become full champion if Bellew vacates.
LH: Alvarez defeated Bute and therefore will fight Stevenson once both sides agree a deal.
