The World Boxing Association has ordered champion Kohei Kono and second-ranked Koki Kameda to begin negotiations for their mandatory super flyweight title fight.

The championships committee, chaired by Gilberto Jesus Mendoza, announced the decision on Thursday.

The parties have 30 days to reach an agreement otherwise fight promoters will open the bout to a purse bid. They were to have staged a mandatory fight last year but it never materialized.

Kameda has effectively been banned from fighting in Japan due to sanctions imposed on his gym by the Japan Boxing Commission.