WBO: Korobov-Lee Request For Vacant Belt Received

By Mike Coppinger

Ever since Peter Quillin turned down a $1.5 million payday to defend against Matt Korobov, the WBO middleweight title has been held in abeyance.

We know Korobov will be fighting for the vacant title. We don't yet know whom he'll be competing against.

However, we could soon have clarity. WBO president Paco Valcarcel announced Wednesday, via Twitter, that he referred to the WBO championship committe a request from Top Rank and Frank Warren Promotions to pit Korobov against Andy Lee.

Why is Warren involved when the proposed matchup pits a Top Rank fighter and Lou DiBella one? It's complicated.

Andrade, the WBO's 154-pound champion, petitioned the WBO to face Korobov for the 160-pound strap. That was approved, scraping a fight between Korobov and Billy Joe Saunders. Now, Andrade changed his mind and wants to stay at '54. But there's just one problem: Saunders has moved forward to a fight with Chris Eubank Jr.

Jermall Charlo is rated No. 3, but it's unclear why he's being skipped over. (Perhaps the WBO knows it's a lost cause after fellow Haymon stablemate Quillin turned it down.)

That leaves Lee (33-2, 23 KOs), the organization's No. 4-rated middleweight. However, his last fight took place at 154 pounds, when he authored a Knockout of the Year candidate over John Jackson.

Follow Mike Coppinger on Twitter: @MikeCoppinger