Demetrius Andrade, who was stripped of his junior middleweight world title by the WBO on July 31 for inactivity, filed an appeal over the decision Thursday.
Andrade (21-0, 14 KOs), 27, of Providence, Rhode Island, has not fought since making his only defense, a mandatory against Brian Rose on June 14, 2014. The WBO rules state that the organization may strip a titleholder of his belt if he fails to defend it within nine months.
In his letter to WBO president Francisco "Paco" Valcarcel, Andrade claimed the WBO failed to offer him a mandatory opponent against whom he could defend his title during the past seven months.
Andrade turned down a career-high offer of $550,000 from his co-promoters, Joe DeGuardia of Star Boxing and Artie Pelullo of Banner Promotions, to face Jermell Charlo in December as part of a larger multi-fight contract offer from Showtime.
Andrade's appeal said the WBO sent him a letter Jan. 23 stating that it would schedule a purse bid if a deal was not reached for him to fight Charlo, the WBO's No. 1 challenger, within 30 days. Andrade said no purse bid was scheduled but that he eventually signed a contract Jan.14 to fight Charlo, who elected to sign to fight Vanes Martirosyan instead and beat him March 28.
"We respectfully request that the WBO allow Demetrius Andrade to defend the WBO junior middleweight title against anyone of the top 15 opponents," the appeal said. "Only the WBO has the ability to force one of their approved challengers to fight him. We respectfully ask the WBO world championship committee to use their power to force a top 15 fighter to fight him at your earliest possible convenience.
"We would be more than willing to allow a fight to occur under the rules of a purse bid, if necessary. Please use your power and authority to step in and force a mandatory fight to allow Demetrius Andrade to defend his title in the boxing ring, where it should be decided and you have our word that we will honor the WBO by agreeing to fight anyone approved by the WBO before Sept. 30."