The International Boxing Federation (IBF) is poised to formally order negotiations for a highly anticipated super-welterweight title bout between champion Bakhram Murtazaliev and mandatory challenger Erickson Lubin.
Murtazaliev captured the IBF strap last year with an 11th-round stoppage victory over Jack Culcay. He then successfully defended his title with a dominant performance against Tim Tszyu.
His defense against Tszyu in October saw the 32-year-old Russian deliver a powerful three-round performance, solidifying his impressive standing in the 154lb division.
Now, it seems likely that the undefeated Murtazaliev (23-0, 17 KOs) will be directed to face the required challenger, Lubin (27-2, 19 KOs).
The IBF has informed Boxing News that the negotiation period is scheduled to start tomorrow, granting both sides 30 days, in line with IBF regulations, to finalize an agreement.
Lubin secured this mandatory position by bouncing back in his career with an 11th-round knockout win against Ardreal Holmes Jr.
This significant victory took place just last Saturday. Despite a 20-month break from the ring, the 29-year-old fighter looked in excellent form, resembling his peak performances.
While boxing enthusiasts may recall his past stoppage losses to Jermell Charlo and Sebastian Fundora, ‘The Hammer’ has proven himself to be a reliable and experienced contender at the world level.
A clash between Murtazaliev and Lubin is expected to be action-packed from the opening bell, given that both fighters are aggressive punchers who rarely avoid engaging in exciting exchanges.
Both promotional teams will have until June 13th to come to terms on the fight before the IBF mandates a purse bid process.
