By Lem Satterfield

IBF chairman, Lindsay Tucker, confirmed the accuracy of an earlier report by BoxingScene.com concerning the situation with 140-pound champion Devon Alexander and the IBF, which went forward with a purse bid on September 28 for an IBF mandatory bout between the champion and Kaizer Mabuza.

An IBF letter was sent on Aug. 9 which notified Alexander's promoter Don King, and, Mabuza's promoter, Branco Milenkovic of South Africa, to begin negotiations for a period that ended on September 9, with the purse bid set for September 28.

Initially, the purse bid was postponed because King notified IBF President Daryl Peoples that an agreement had been reached for Alexander to unify his crowns with WBO champion Timothy Bradley on January 29. But the IBF claims that Shaw did not send them a copy of the agreement in time, so that the purse bid proceeded as scheduled.

Milenkovic was the only bidder with $101,500, and paid the 20 percent deposit of $20, 3000. The purse bid split will be 75 percent to Alexander, and, 25 percent to Mabuza if the fight is made. The executed contracts must be submitted to the IBF within 15 days of the purse bid or no later than October 13, 2010.

"Devon Alexander has been ordered to do his mandatory against challenger Kaizer Mabuza, who is the IBF's No. 1-rated junior welterweight division. Right now, it's past the point where Devon Alexander can still face Tim Bradley and then do Mabuza," said Tucker.

Shaw disputed the IBF's claims to BoxingScene.com.

"Daryl Peoples is not being truthful. I was on the phone with him and King. We said there was an agreement, and then he [Peoples] went and scheduled the purse bid. I told Don that he should start a lawsuit," said Shaw. "It doesn't make any sense. Instead of getting a [sanctioning] fee from a million dollar purse [for Alexander], now they get one from a $75,000 purse."

Alexander is expected to move forward with his million dollar unification against Bradley in January, which in turn would vacate the IBF title.

The IBF has already given temporary approval for Mabuza (23-6-3, 14 KOs) to face the winner of a Nov. 6 bout between former titlist Zab Judah (38-6, 26 KOs) and Lucas Matthysse (27-0, 25 KOs). Mabuza returns from a February six round knockout of Kendall Holt.

"The normal course of events would now be that the two, highest-rated fighters would meet for the vacant title," said the IBF's Tucker. "In this case, we have a person who already has fought to be No. 1, and we have an eliminator for the No. 2 spot that will take place on Nov. 6. Should that happen, then No. 1 would fight No. 2 for the vacated title."