The WBC has ordered middleweight champion Carlos Adames to defend his title against the winner of the 19 September bout between Jesus Ramos Jr and Meiirim Nursultanov, blocking an immediate unification fight against WBO titleholder Denzel Bentley.
The WBC formally notified all involved camps of the ruling on Monday, placing a strict restriction on Adames that bars him from taking any intervening bout. That decision rules out an immediate 160-pound unification contest against Bentley, who was recently elevated to full WBO champion status. Both Adames and Bentley had expressed a strong desire to schedule the fight. Sanctioning body regulations have now removed that choice.
Adames had also explored options in higher weight divisions earlier this year. Discussions were held regarding a potential move to super middleweight to challenge IBF champion Osleys Iglesias. But those negotiations stalled, leaving Bentley as his primary option at 160 pounds before the governing body stepped in.
The mandatory order shifts the division’s focus to the 19 September match. Ramos, a 25-year-old interim champion, positioned himself for this opportunity by defeating Shane Mosley Jr last year and has chased a match against Adames ever since. Nursultanov stands to gain equal ground, with victory sending the Kazakh contender straight into a championship bout against the Dominican titleholder.
Adames last defended his WBC belt in March, earning a unanimous decision over Austin Williams.
The ruling prevents Adames from making a voluntary title defense while he waits for the outcome in September. A unification clash with Bentley would have offered Adames the chance to claim a second middleweight championship belt. Instead, he must wait on the sidelines until Ramos and Nursultanov determine who will challenge him next.
