By Luke Furman

Super middleweight Adonis Stevenson is having a hard time securing an opponent for an IBF title eliminator. To date, Edwin Rodriguez, Thomas Oosthuizen and James Degale have turned down the opportunity to face Stevenson. The IBF is going down the line and the sanctioning body has offered former middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik the opportunity to faces Stevenson.

Pavlik returns on Friday night in Las Vegas against Scott Sigmon (22-3, 12 KOs) at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. If he wins, Pavlik (38-2, 33 KOs, ranked number 8) will be given until Tuesday to give the IBF an answer about Stevenson (18-1, 15 KOs, ranked number 2).

"If he refuses to fight with Adonis, the new rankings will come out in June and the highest rated boxer in these rankings [except boxers who have already refused the invitation] will be approached," said Yvon Michel, promoter of Stevenson.

Luke Furman covers boxing for bokser.org.