The World Boxing Organization (WBO) is ready to crown a new cruiserweight champion.

Months of turmoil surrounding its 200-pound title has finally reached a point of clarity, as the Puerto Rico-based sanctioning body will formally order a vacant title fight between Krzysztof Glowacki and Lawrence Okolie. The bout was unanimously approved by the WBO committee Thursday morning during its annual convention in Tokyo, Japan.

Francisco ‘Paco’ Valcarcel, president of the WBO instructed Matchroom Boxing, Okolie’s promoter to prepare for a 15-day negotiation period with Glowacki’s promoters, Andrew Wasilewski and Leon Margules to work out terms for the forthcoming title fight, which will be due to take place no later than 90 days after the designated negotiation deadline.

The belt became vacant after prior claimant, Latvia’s Mairis Briedis opted to move forward with his yet-to-be-scheduled World Boxing Super Series final versus Miami’s Yuniel Dorticos in lieu of a WBO-ordered rematch with Poland’s Glowacki (31-2, 19KOs). The two were mandated to meet again following the controversial nature of their WBSS semifinal clash this past June, which Briedis won by 3rd round knockout though not without a swarm of controversy.

The poorly officiated contest saw both boxers fouled, and Briedis flooring Glowacki three times—including once well after the bell sounded to what was supposed to mark the end of the second round.

As previously reported by BoxingScene.com, an official protest was filed by Glowacki’s team, which was officially denied though with the condition that the Polish southpaw land the winner of the WBSS finals no later than 120 days upon conclusion of the tournament. A modification to that ruling came following a successful second appeal, at which point the WBO still agreed to uphold the original verdict but change course and order Briedis-Glowacki II.

Briedis declined to entertain the fight, failing to negotiate terms or attend a purse bid hearing attached to the ordered bout. His actions left the WBO to relieve him of his title status.

With the ruling came the eagerness on the part of England’s Okolie (14-0, 11KOs) to answer the call to face Glowacki as the next highest rated contender. The 2016 Olympian for Great Britain has emerged as a perennial Top 10 contender on the strength of four knockout wins in 2019, including a 7th round knockout of Yves Ngabu this past November in London, England.

Glowacki will aim to become a three-time WBO titlist. He first claimed the belt in dramatic fashion, climbing off the canvas to drop and stop Marco Huck in their Aug. 2015 thriller, leaving Huck forced to share the all-time mark with Johnny Nelson for most successful cruiserweight defenses.

Just one successful defense followed for Glowacki, a 12-round win over Steve Cunningham in April 2016 before losing the belt in a decision defeat to Oleksandr Usyk later that September. The 33-year old Polish slugger reclaimed an interim title after a 12-round win over Maksim Vlasov last October, receiving an upgrade to full titlist after Usyk severed all ties to the division earlier this year in favor of a run at heavyweight.

Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox