It appears the WBA has given their welterweight champion, Miguel Cotto (31-0, 25KOs), until December to meet his mandatory, unbeaten Yuriy Nuzhnenko (27-0, 13 K0s).

Nuzhnenko won the WBA's interim-welterweight title last December with a close points win over Frederic Klose in Cannes, France.

Gilberto Jesus Mendoza, executive vice-president of the WBA, told Primera Hora that Cotto has permission from the sanctioning body to defend the title against "Contender" star Alfonso Gomez on April 12, and for a possible defense against Antonio Magarito in July.

But, the WBA has ruled that Cotto must face Nuzhnenko by December, and a deadline of October to begin the negotiations process.

"Cotto has until October to negotiate, otherwise, the other alternative would be to vacate the title", said Mendoza.