Lebedev Will Go With Ramirez Unification First, Then Mandatory

By Vadim Pushkin

According to promoter Andrei Ryabinski of World of Boxing, WBA cruiserweight world champion Denis Lebedev (28-2, 21 KOs) will proceed with his unification bout and then go forward with a mandatory title defense.

As BoxingScene.com recently reported, the World Boxing Association ordered the 36-year-old to make a mandatory title defense against Cuban Yunier Dorticos (20-0, 19 KOs).

However, the Russian party was already working on a big unification event with Argentine Victor Emilio Ramirez (22-2-1, 17 KOs), the owner of the IBF belt.

"Yes, we have received a notification [regarding the mandatory], but that's normal. I think we will find a common ground with the organization, this is not a critical situation," the promoter said.

The fight between Lebedev and Ramirez will probably take place on a date in April.

Lebedev had a big year in 2015 and now won three in a row since getting knocked out by Guillermo Jones in eleven rounds in May of 2013. Jones tested positive for a banned weight cutting agent in the aftermath, but the official result of the contest was never officially changed. Jones was eventually stripped of  the belt, which the sanctioning body returned to Lebedev.

He won a twelve round unanimous decision in April over mandatory challenger Youri Kalenga. He then came back in November, and stopped undefeated Nigerian fighter Lateef Kayode in eight rounds.

Ramirez became the world champion after beltholder Yoan Pablo Hernandez was stripped for a very long stint of inactivity. Ramirez captured the interim-IBF world championship when he defeated Ola Afolabi last May, and then he came back in October to win a twelve round split draw with Ovill McKenzie of the UK.