Anthony Cacace ordered to defend WBA World super-featherweight title
Anthony Cacace vs Elnur Samedov enter 30-day negotiation period
The World Boxing Association, through its Championships Committee, has officially ordered the mandatory super-featherweight world title bout between WBA and IBO champion Anthony Cacace and Interim champion and mandatory challenger Elnur Samedov.
Both camps will have a 30-day negotiation period to reach an agreement. The negotiation window begins on June 2 and will remain open until July 2.
Under WBA Championship Rule C.10, a champion is required to defend the title against the highest-ranked available contender within 120 days of winning the championship, provided that no official challenger has been designated.
Since Cacace captured the title on March 14, 2026, against Jazza Dickens at the 3Arena in Dublin, his mandatory defence must take place no later than July 14, 2026, against mandatory challenger Elnur Samedov. In addition, pursuant to WBA Rule C.13 regarding bout limitations, the champion is prohibited from competing against any boxer other than the official challenger during the final 60 days preceding the mandatory defence deadline.
Both parties are now required to begin negotiations. Should they fail to reach an agreement within the allotted timeframe, or if either side refuses to sign the contract, the WBA reserves the right to send the bout to a purse bid.
Who is Elnur Samedov?
Elnur Mamed Ogly Samedov was born August 2, 1993, in Şahağac, Azerbaijan.
He stands at just 5 ft 5 in (165 cm).
The southpaw won his pro debut against Evgeny Smelov on August 19, 2016, in Russia.
He won his first title in his sixth fight - the vacant WBC CISBB lightweight title.
His first attempt at the Russian lightweight title against Nikita Kuznetsov ended in a split decision defeat.
His second attempt, 11 months later, also ended in a split decision, against Viskhan Murzabekov, but this time he won the Russian title.
In 2020, he had his first and only fight outside of Russia in Belarus.
On Valentine's Day 2026, Samedov stopped John Lenon Gutierrez in the 11th to win the WBA Interim super-featherweight title.
