Undisputed super lightweight champion Kostya Tszyu has warned he will consider legal action if the World Boxing Council strips him of its title for not fighting mandatory challenger Gianluca Branco.

The WBC announced that the right to stage the fight had been switched from Tszyu's promoter Vlad Warton to unbeaten Italian Branco's promoter Salvatore Cherchi.

Warton initially won the right to stage the fight with a purse bid of $US1,550,000 ($A2.59 million) compared to Cherchi's bid of $US1,331,000 ($A2.22 million).

However the WBC awarded the rights to Cherchi after Warton's company Millennium Events did not lodge 10 per cent of the bid with the WBC.

Warton had initially suggested Tszyu might face Branco in Russia, while Cherchi would no doubt like the contest to be staged in Italy where Branco has had all but one of his professional contests.

It was understood the contest didn't have the financial support of Tszyu's cable television paymaster Showtime.

The American network wanted a more attractive opponent than the unheralded Italian, who is largely unknown outside of Europe.

WBC's Australian representative Frank Quill said his organisation would give both parties eight days to finalise a fight.

"If Kostya doesn't want the fight, the championship will be declared vacant," Quill said.

Although keen to retain his WBC title, Tszyu cast doubt on the credentials of 32-year-old European champion Branco who has logged 32 wins (12 by KO) and one draw.

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