The WBA has ordered “regular” heavyweight titleholder Kubrat Pulev to face No. 1 contender Fabio Wardley, while granting unified champion Oleksandr Usyk a 24-month period in which to fulfill his mandatory obligations.

The Pulev-Wardley order came down Wednesday, setting the mandatory defense period between March 5 and April 4. A direct message to WBA President Gilberto Mendoza seeking to clarify whether the fight must take place or merely be agreed upon within that window did not receive an immediate response.

The winner of Pulev-Wardley – or Pulev in the event of a draw – must then face No. 3 contender Michael Hunter within 120 days, the WBA states in their resolution.

Bulgaria’s 43-year-old Pulev, 32-3 (14 KOs), last fought in December, defeating Mahmoud Charr to win the sanctioning body’s “regular” belt. The 30-year-old Wardley, 18-0-1 (17 KOs), of Ipswich, England, is coming off his breakout performance, following up a draw against domestic rival Frazer Clarke by scoring a first-round TKO in their October rematch.

The WBA resolution acknowledges that its “super” champion, Usyk, who solidified his position as the heavyweight champ with another win over Tyson Fury, last fulfilled his mandatory obligations in August 2023 when he defeated Daniel Dubois, the current IBF titleholder. Typically, the WBA stipulates that its belt holders must defend their titles every nine months against a mandatory challenger. That rule is being altered for Usyk.

“The intention is to allow the fighter to pursue bouts against the most relevant opponents in the division,” reads the resolution.

“Usyk has been involved in highly significant fights for boxing, marking a new era in the sport. For this reason, the Championship Committee, based on the internal regulations and the current global boxing landscape, has focused on fostering high-quality fights through activity and competition. This is why his mandatory defense period has been extended, allowing him the flexibility to seek the best possible matchups.”

Ryan Songalia is a reporter and editor for krikya360.com and has written for ESPN, the New York Daily News, Rappler, The Guardian, Vice and The Ring magazine. He holds a Master’s degree in Journalism from the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism and is a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. He can be reached at ryansongalia@gmail.com or on Twitter at .