Canelo Alvarez ordered to defend new title by Aug. 4

May 15 (UPI) — Middleweight world champion Canelo Alvarez has been ordered by the International Boxing Federation to defend his title by Aug. 4.

Alvarez and his promoter, Robert Diaz of Golden Boy Promotions, were informed of that in an email from the IBF. The organization said Alvarez, 28, needs to make a mandatory defense against No. 1 challenger Sergiy Derevyanchenko within the next three months.

“Negotiations should commence immediately and be concluded by June 15, 2019,” the IBF wrote, according to ESPN.

Alvarez (52-1-2, 35 knock outs) has not announced if he plans to fight Derevyanchenko (13-1, 10 knockouts) by Aug. 4 or if he will request an extension.

Golden Boy Promotions president Eric Gomez told ESPN he plans to meet with Alvarez in the “next week or so” to make a decision.

Alvarez’s next fight is currently scheduled Sept. 14, the weekend of Mexican Independence Day. He recorded a unanimous decision victory over Daniel Jacobs on May 4 in Las Vegas.