By Luke Furman
According to multiple sources in Canada, Top Rank won the purse bid for the IBF light heavyweight eliminator between Artur Beterbiev and Enrico Koelling on Tuesday.
Top Rank won with a bid of $315,000, easily beating Sauerland Event, the promoter of Koelling, which only $80,000.
Beterbiev's promoter, Yvon Michel of Groupe Yvon Michel (GYM), did not take part in the purse bid - due to the ongoing legal situation with the fighter.
Beterbiev, who is represented by adviser Al Haymon, is trying to break his promotional agreement with Michel, who had the boxer since he turned pro.
A little less than two weeks ago, GYM announced the cancellation of the same fight, which was agreed upon with Koelling's promoter Sauerland. Michel then explained that Beterbiev's visa application to fight in the United States had been refused - which the boxer denied was the case and claimed Michel was refusing to go forward with the fight unless the lawsuit was withdrawn.
In May, the Russian boxer addressed the court to obtain the end of his contract. The case has still not been heard.
Beterbiev and Koelling are expected to compete in October, likely on a card being televised on ESPN.
The winner of the contest would become the mandatory challenger to IBF, WBA, WBO light heavyweight champion Andre Ward, who is expected to return to the ring in the fall.
Ward was in action last month at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, when he retained his three titles with an eight round stoppage of former beltholder Sergey Kovalev. The Russian boxer, who Beterbiev holds a win over in the amateurs, recently filed an appeal to overturn the defeat with the Nevada State Athletic Commission - claiming that Ward closed out the fight with numerous low blows.
Luke Furman covers boxing for bokser.org.
