Bakhram Murtazaliev has found himself back at square one.
BoxingScene has confirmed that the IBF has canceled a purse bid which would have determined promotional rights for Murtazaliev’s junior middleweight title defense against mandatory challenger Erickson Lubin. The hearing was scheduled for Tuesday after the two sides failed to reach an agreement, but is no longer on the books.
No reason was specified for the cancellation. However, the development comes as rumors have swirled that Lubin, 27-2 (19 KOs) could next face WBC interim 154lbs titlist Vergil Ortiz, 23-0 (21 KOs), as previously reported by Ring Magazine.
Regardless, it leaves Russia’s Murtazaliev, 23-0 (17 KOs) – who is promoted by Main Events and managed by Egis Klimas – in a state of uncertainty regarding his own next fight.
The unbeaten 32-year-old has not fought since a third-round knockout of former WBO titleholder Tim Tszyu, 25-3 (18 KOs) last October 19 in Orlando, Florida. Murtazaliev’s career-best feat to date marked the first – and only, to date – defense of the IBF title he claimed in an 11th round stoppage of Jack Culcay last April 6 on the road in Falkansee, Germany.
Lubin, 27-2 (19 KOs) became the IBF mandatory challenger after an 11th round knockout of unbeaten Ardreal Holmes on May 10 in his home region of Kissimmee, Florida. The feat extended his current three-fight win streak, which included a 12-round, unanimous decision victory over Jesus Ramos in a September 2023 WBA title eliminator.
However, a decision to next face Ortiz – or any other primary or secondary titleholder – would result in forfeiture of his IBF number one ranking. Furthermore, he would be ineligible to compete in an IBF-sanctioned bout for a minimum of six months, per the organization’s rules covering ordered title fights.
As far as an Ortiz-Lubin matchup goes, all involved parties have acknowledged that talks have taken place.
Ortiz’s team publicly stated its first choice was WBO 154lbs titleholder Xander Zayas, though the effort to finalize the attractive matchup quickly went pear shaped.
Lubin publicly stated that while the Ortiz fight wasn’t yet full agreed upon, among the topics discussed and stipulated were extensive VADA drug testing.
Should Lubin ultimately pass on the chance to face Murtazaliev, the IBF would have to determine next steps as it relates to the mandatory position.
