IBF junior-middleweight king Bakhram Murtazaliev is headed for a compulsory defence against Florida puncher Erickson Lubin after the sanctioning body ordered the bout be staged no later than November. Promoter Kathy Duva confirmed that talks with TGB’s Tom Brown began Tuesday morning, pivoting from an abandoned bid to secure an exception for a late-summer clash with Josh Kelly.
Murtazaliev lifted the title on the road against Jack Culcay and stamped his authority by dropping former WBO champion Tim Tszyu four times en route to a third-round knockout last October in Florida. Lubin, meanwhile, has rebuilt with three straight wins since falling to Sebastian Fundora, most recently stopping Ardreal Holmes in the 11th round this May.
Watch Murtazaliev vs. Tszyu highlights: Watch
Duva had hoped to fit the Lubin fight in before the champion’s Ramadan break next February, while Saudi backer Turki Alalshikh even floated an offer for unbeaten Vergil Ortiz Jnr—rejected by Ortiz’s team over the IBF’s strict 10-pound fight-day rehydration cap. With time ticking and the mandate firm, all roads now lead to Murtazaliev-Lubin for early autumn and the division’s latest championship litmus test.
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