WBO set 30 day limit for Tanaka and Gonzalez
Earlier today the WBO released a letter stating that WBO Flyweight champion Kosei Tanaka (13-0, 7) [田中恒成] and 28 year old Puerto Rican Jonathan Gonzalez (22-2-1, 13) had 30 days to agree a deal to fight in a mandatory defense, or a purse bid would be called. If the bout did go to purse bids the minimum bid would be $80,000.
The letter, which can be read below, was sent to both teams today.
The letter, which can be read below, was sent to both teams today.
Gentlemen:
Please be advised the parties have thirty-days (30) upon receipt of this letter to negotiate and reach an agreement regarding the WBO Flyweight Championship Contest between Kosei Tanaka vs. Jonathan Gonzalez. If an accord is not reached within the time frame set forth herein, a Purse Bid will be ordered pursuant with our WBO Regulations of World Championship Contests.
The minimum acceptable bid for the WBO Flyweight Division is $80,000.00 (Eighty Thousand Dollars). Any of the parties involved may request purse bid procedures at any time during the negotiation process.
Yours truly,
Despite the 30 day limit it's assumed that the teams are close to agreeing a deal in the coming weeks anyway, with the bout being pencilled in for August in Japan. Although no dates have been stated by anyone it is likely to be around the 11th or 12th, coinciding with a Japanese national holiday thus allowing the best TV figures for the bout.
For Tanaka the bout will serve as his second defense, following his win over Ryoichi Taguchi earlier this year, and could help set up the highly anticipated unification bout with WBC champion Kenshiro (15-0, 8) [拳四朗]. As for Gonzalez the bout will be his first world title bout, and follows 4 straight wins following his 2016 Joebert Alvarez, including wins over former Naoya Inoue victim Ricardo Rodriguez and Julian Yedras.
For Tanaka the bout will serve as his second defense, following his win over Ryoichi Taguchi earlier this year, and could help set up the highly anticipated unification bout with WBC champion Kenshiro (15-0, 8) [拳四朗]. As for Gonzalez the bout will be his first world title bout, and follows 4 straight wins following his 2016 Joebert Alvarez, including wins over former Naoya Inoue victim Ricardo Rodriguez and Julian Yedras.