As has been widely reported, both Samuel Peter and Vitali Klitschko have claimed certain rights and privileges in contradiction of the claims of the other to be the next challenger for the WBC world heavyweight championship, while the reigning champion, Oleg Maskaev, has requested to fight Vitali Klitschko first.

Contrary to certain reports, the WBC has not issued any order in this regard, finding itself between competing claims. The WBC wishes to do only what is fair to all parties.

The WBC Rules and Regulations are clear. When there is a dispute of any type, the WBC shall attempt to resolve the controversy. I have communicated with representatives of each boxer in an attempt to resolve this issue in an amicable way, and regret that my efforts have been unsuccessful.

Under WBC Rule 5.3, the next step is Compulsory Mediation, a process in which a neutral mediator, selected by the parties, assists in conducting good faith negotiations to settle their dispute.

If the parties cannot agree on a mediator, one will be selected from those of the Court of Arbitration for Sport, listed at www.tas-cas.org/en/mediat/frmmediat.htm. The Court of Arbitration for Sport is highly respected, and the world’s international legal tribunal for the resolution of all sports-related controversies.

The WBC has now ordered the boxers to participate in the Compulsory Mediation process, and hopes that each of the boxers and their representatives will conduct themselves as gentlemen, in good faith, to resolve this matter in the best interests of all concerned.

If the mediation is unsuccessful, the provisions of WBC Rule 5.4 will then apply. The Court of Arbitration for Sport shall determine the rights of the boxers, through a process of mandatory arbitration as agreed to in writing by all parties in their WBC contracts and by accepting the privileges of boxing for the WBC title. As all the involved parties must, the WBC will accept the arbitrator’s decision as binding and final.

While controversy is never pleasant, we understand that it is part of boxing, and can almost always be expected when the prize is what many believe to be the greatest title in all of sports: WBC Heavyweight Champion of the World.