Pending victory over Carlos Ocampo on the Gold Coast next month, Tim Tszyu has been ordered to face undisputed champion Jermell Charlo by September 30.
Tszyu currently holds the interim WBO title at 154-pounds, while Charlo holds all four belts in the division.
The WBO sent a letter to Tszyu's promoter, Matt Rose, ordering the winner of the interim bout between Tszyu and Ocampo to face Charlo in their next bout, prior to the agreed date.
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"Sanction approval is granted subject to the following provisions, most notably (i) the winner must face in his next bout the WBO Jr. Middleweight Champion no later than September 30, 2023; (ii) the winner must be available, ready, willing, and able to face in his next bout the WBO Jr. Middleweight Champion within the above referenced period," the statement read.
No Limit Boxing CEO George Rose responded to the statement on Wednesday.
"It's massive. It's the news we’ve been waiting on but again highlights just how big a risk Tim's fight next month on the Gold Coast is," Rose said.
"If Tim loses, it's over. No Charlo, no undisputed, no nothing.
"After all the waiting and uncertainty, it's crazy to think it's Jermell Charlo who has the advantage... He's prepping now and doesn't have a world-class, tough Mexican in Carlos Ocampo trying to take everything away from him.
"Sunday June 18 has just become a whole lot bigger. The stakes couldn’t be higher."
"His shot at undisputed depends on it."
Charlo is yet to publicly confirm his availability or willingness to face the winner before September 30.
The undisputed champion hasn't fought since he defeated Brian Castano in May last year, pulling out of a scheduled January bout with Tszyu with a hand injury.
That delay saw Tszyu look elsewhere, knocking Tony Harrison out to claim the interim WBO world title in Sydney in March.
Tszyu was under the impression he'd be fighting Charlo for all the belts in the US summer, although the 32-year-old American revealed his hand injury still needed more time to recover.
Tszyu again opted to stay busy rather than wait for Charlo, setting up a meeting with tough Mexican Ocampo at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre for Sunday, June 18.
Provided he gets through that unscathed, it now looks as if he'll face Charlo some time in September.
