According to the sanctioning body, The Ring’s No. 1 middleweight petitioned the WBC to allow him to compete in a fight above 160 pounds on November 17 against a yet-to-be-named opponent. After considering his petition, his request was granted.

Still, even with Adames (25-1-1, 18 KOs) being given permission there’s a lot on the line. If the 32-year-old Dominican loses that bout, his WBC title will be declared vacant. Also, Adames must face Meiirim Nursultanov, his mandatory challenger, immediately after. The winner of that fight must face WBC interim champion Jesus Ramos.

The WBC will review Adames’ mandatory obligations at their annual convention to be held in Acapulco, Mexico, from November 8-13.

This ruling comes just weeks after the WBC ordered Adames to fight Nursultanov (20-0, 11 KOs). Originally, the undefeated 33-year-old from Kazakhstan was supposed to fight Ramos (24-1, 19 KOs) on September 19 at Pechanga Arena in San Diego, with the winner getting a mandated crack at Adames. However, just one day before the weigh-ins, Ramos was transported to a local hospital with an illness, leading to their bout being canceled.

Adames, who recently signed a multi-fight deal with Zuffa Boxing, has flirted with moving up in weight. The hard-hitting middleweight went back-and-forth on social media with Osleys Iglesias, the IBF super middleweight champion. Iglesias, of course, won’t be Adames’ next opponent. The 28-year-old champion from Havana, Cuba, is coming off a seventh-round stoppage of Oliver Zaren on October 8 in Quebec City.

Adames looked spectacular in his last outing against Austin “Ammo” Williams. He dropped the fringe contender in the second round before cruising to a wide unanimous decision on March 21.