Murodjon Akhmadaliev’s quest for undisputed championship status will be slowed by at least one mandatory title defense, Boxing Scene reports.

The unified IBF/WBA junior featherweight titlist has been ordered to next defend versus IBF number-one contender Marlon Tapales. The fight was formally ordered by the New Jersey-based sanctioning body on January 4, with the two sides given until February 2 to work out a deal to avoid a purse bid hearing.

Akhmadaliev is represented by Hearn and manager Vadim Kornilov and has twice defended his unified titles since dethroning Danny Roman nearly two years ago. The unbeaten southpaw from Chust, Uzbekistan, who now trains out of Joel Diaz’s facility in Indio, California, is coming off a twelve-round, unanimous decision win over Jose Velasquez last November 19 in Manchester, New Hampshire.

Tulqin Ruziyev, UzA