Mandatory challenger
In professional boxing and some other combat sports, a mandatory challenger is an opponent whom a champion must either fight (in a mandatory defence) or be forced to vacate their title as champion. The opposite of a mandatory defence is a voluntary defence, against an opponent who might offer greater revenue potential than a mandatory challenger.[1]
Mandatory challengers are designated by the champion's sanctioning body; in boxing, the major sanctioning bodies are the
unification fights cannot be mandatory defences. Conversely, mandatory challengers may be forced to wait for a title shot if the champion pursues a unification bout with a champion of a different sanctioning body, as a unification fight supersedes a mandatory defence.[2]
See also
References
- ^ "Boxing titles explained: How do championship belts work?". blog.betway.com. Retrieved 2020-03-12.
- ^ "The not-so-sweet science of unification bouts". ESPN.com. 2017-08-16. Retrieved 2020-03-12.