The World Boxing Organization on Friday selected unbeaten Brooklyn welterweight Sadam Ali as the mandatory challenger for welterweight champion Timothy Bradley.
Bradley promoter Bob Arum told The Times minutes after the decision that he’s already close to finalizing a deal for Cathedral City’s Bradley to fight Oxnard’s Brandon Rios on Dec. 12 at the Forum.
“We’ll work that out. We’ll work out a deal for Ali to step aside and make the Rios fight,” Arum said.
Ali promoter Oscar De La Hoya said it's "too premature" to discuss the scenario now.
"I'm going to speak to Arum and Ali and see what they want to do," De La Hoya told The Times in a text message.