By John Angus MacDonald

The World Boxing Council have denied a protest from George Groves against the sanctioning of a contest between Callum Smith and Hadilah Mohoumadi as a final eliminator to determine the mandatory challenger for WBC super-middleweight champion, Badou Jack.

Groves along with his promoter, Sauerland Promotion, protested the sanctioning of a fight between Smith—ranked No.1 in the WBC ratings—and Mohoumadi—then ranked at seven, currently ranked sixth—as this bypassed Groves who was ranked at three and the highest ranked available fighter as #2 Gilberto Ramirez had agreed to fight WBO ruler Arthur Abraham.

“The Saint” returned to action for the first time since dropping a split decision to Badou Jack last September when he stopped Andrea Di Luisa in the fifth round on 30 January and was hoping to participate in an elimination contest with Smith. A win would have granted him a fourth world title shot and an opportunity to avenge his defeat to Jack.

However, section 3.7 of the WBC rules clearly state that a final eliminator does not have to be against the two highest ranked available contenders.

‘Designation of Mandatory Challengers. The WBC shall always have the discretion to designate a mandatory challenger by:

(a) ordering a final elimination bout of two qualified contenders;
(b) designating a Qualified Challenger as the official mandatory challenger; or
(c) ordering a unification bout with a champion of another organization recognized by the WBC.

For the avoidance of doubt, the highest rated (or the highest rated available) boxer in the WBC rankings is never, solely by virtue of such position, the official mandatory challenger. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, including any communications attributed to the WBC, no boxer shall be considered as, or claim any privileges associated with, being a mandatory challenger unless (i) the boxer has been officially designated as such by the WBC President or the President’s designated representative, and (ii) the WBC Board of Governors has voted to authorize or ratify the designation of such boxer as mandatory challenger.’

As a result, the WBC have ruled against the protest and will continue to sanction Smith Vs. Mohoumadi on April 2 at he Echo Arena, Liverpool, as a final eliminator.

Smith (18-0, 13 KOs) has previously won three WBC eliminators against Nikola Sjekloca, Christopher Rebrasse and most recently Rocky Fielding.

Mohoumadi will return to the U.K for the first time since putting on a spirited display in defeat against James DeGale in 2012. The bout will also be for the vacant European super-middleweight title.

Eddie Hearn, Smith’s promoter, is delighted by the ruling.

"As predicted, the WBC have rejected the George Groves and Sauerland protest to stop the final eliminator between Callum Smith and Mohoumaddi,” Hearn told BoxingScene.com. “We have called the Groves fight out for some time and it was continually scoffed at by him and his team.

“Now we are one fight away from Badou Jack and the WBC title. Callum has the biggest test of his career on April second, but I believe this young man has everything needed to become a World Champion in one of boxing’s hotter divisions.”