Marlen Esparza and Gabriela Alaniz have ten more days to come to terms for their ordered rematch.

krikya360.com has confirmed that the WBO has postponed its previously scheduled August 23 purse bid hearing per a two-party extension request. Golden Boy Promotions and O.R. Promotions—representing Esparza and Alaniz, respecitvel—asked the sanctioning body for more time just as the deadline approached to confirm their interest in moving forward with a mandated second fight.

“On August 18, 2023, this Committee issued a notice letter to the parties requesting an update pertaining to the negotiations,” WBO Championship Committee chairman Luis Batista-Salas stated to both promoters in a ruling obtained by Boxing Scene. “The Committee granted a 48-hour time frame to comply therewith. However, on August 21, 2023, the WBO confirmed receipt of email communication on behalf of both teams requesting a 10-day extension to reach an agreement as ordered.

“Therefore, having this Committee considered the foregoing petition, it is hereby granted and consequently, the purse bid scheduled for August 23, 2023, at the WBO main offices is terminated.”

The WBO has set aside a September 1 purse bid date in the event the two sides cannot come to terms.

A second fight was ordered by the WBO upon review of their July 8 unification bout which saw Houston’s Esparza (12-1, 1KO) score an unpopular ten-round, majority decision over Argentina’s Alaniz (14-1, 6KOs).

The lineal, WBC, WBA and WBO flyweight championship unification bout—which aired on DAZN from AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas—saw Esparza win by margins of 97-93 and 99-91 on the cards of Nelson Lopez and Javier Alvarez, respectively. Both cards were widely criticized, whereas the scoring of judge Lisa Giampa (95-95) seemed to be more in line with those in press row, fans in attendance and viewers watching on the streaming service.

Alaniz’ team—headed by promoter Georgina Rivero—immediately submitted a formal written complaint to the WBO on the basis that “the scores had the impression of favoring the local fighter (Esparza); the referee allowed multiple and constant headbutts and elbows from Esparza; Esparza was warned on more than 6 occasions but no actions were taken against the latter, and the later rounds were clearly rounds in favor of Alaniz but scored in favor of Esparza.”

An independent review by the sanctioning body concluded there exists the grounds to run it back.

Esparza was granted a 14-day period to appeal the decision. Given the WBO’s most recent ruling, it is clear that the unified flyweight champion did not take such—or any—action.

The ordered rematch comes as the division’s lone remaining titlist, IBF claimant Arely Mucino, was ordered to next face unbeaten mandatory challenger Gabriela Fundora. As previously reported by Boxing Scene, the IBF has scheduled an August 29 purse bid hearing for the flyweight title fight.  

Esparza–a 2012 Olympic Bronze medalist—claimed the WBC belt in a June 2021 points win over Ibeth Zamora in El Paso, Texas. Four successful defenses have followed, including wins in unification bouts over Alaniz in July for the WBO belt and legendary five-division titlist Naoko Fujioka who lost her WBA belt to Esparza last April 9 at Alamodome in San Antonio.

Jake Donovan is a senior writer for krikya360.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox