SEVEN months since his last outing, a 10-round unanimous decision win over longtime contender Sergiy Derevyanchenko, it appears we won't have to wait much longer for confirmation over Christian Mbilli's next move at super-middleweight.

The No. 1-ranked WBA, WBC contender (28-0, 23 KOs) was ordered to face Diego Pacheco in an IBF title eliminator last November, before the Matchroom-backed rising star instead opted to face then-unbeaten Steven Nelson on January 25. As reported by The Ring, Mbilli's proposed matchup with compatriot Kevin Lele Sadjo (24-0, 21 KOs) also fell through.

That matchup was being marketed to unfold on May 8 in Paris, though the 29-year-old's return may still occur during that month or shortly afterwards now.

Mbilli's coach Marc Ramsay recently told The Ring the stumbling block related to having assigned fight purses placed in escrow in advance, something that could not be guaranteed. Now, they've ventured down another route and closure appears imminent on a rescheduled date against his original opponent.

"The fight was all but done, there were some contractual negotiation issues as we wanted to secure his money - at least in escrow - especially upon hearing Sadjo hadn't been paid on time for his last fight. The promoter [Y12 Boxing] couldn't guarantee that, so we moved on."

Last month, WBC president Mauricio Sulaimán told The Ring: "Christian has been in the WBC for four years now with many Continental Americas title defences [8] which got him to the top position and now he's expressed to us, he's completely going the WBC route... even though a month ago, he had the IBF [situation].

He's in a very good position, we have communicated with him and Diego Pacheco, so we're waiting for their decision to see if they will stay with our process."

That has since proven the case and having given both sides time to agree financial terms, the WBC officially ordered a purse bid for midday on April 8.

"It's a great fan-friendly fight, isn't it? You've got two guys who can hit, one is more offensive while the other is more of a counter-puncher, Diego's got a great coach in Benavidez."

Earlier this month, Eye of the Tiger Management president Camille Estephan told FightsATW of his plans to promote a double-header of divisional title eliminators on the same show - Pacheco-Mbilli and Cuba's Osleys Iglesias (13-0, 12 KOs) vs. Sadjo, after the IBF ordered the latter.

He said they have dates planned for May in Quebec City, Canada, so it remains to be seen whether they outbid Matchroom for promotional rights or Pacheco's handlers maneuver him towards a different challenge again.

Pacheco's promoter Eddie Hearn shared last month that Trevor McCumby (28-1, 21 KOs) was a potential option, while former IBF titleholder Caleb Plant (23-2, 14 KOs) - who scored a ninth-round stoppage of the 32-year-old last September - is expected to headline a PBC card on May 31.

The landscape below unified champion Canelo Alvarez continues taking shape before his Riyadh Season debut against IBF titleholder William Scull (23-0, 9 KOs) on May 3.