By Ruslan Chikov
Several reports in the Russian press are suggesting that the IBF is considering another four fighter elimination style tournament to crown a new mandatory challenger to IBF/IBO/WBO champion Wladimir Klitschko. The four fighters being considered are former cruiserweight champion Jean-Marc Mormeck, K2 promoted boxer Johnathon Banks and Russian pugs Alexander Dimitrenko and Denis Boytsov.
The IBF held a similar tournament in 2007 with Alexander Povetkin, Chris Byrd, Eddie Chambers and Calvin Brock. Povetkin beat Chambers in the final bout of the tournament but to date has has never fought Klitschko. The were going to fight in December of 2008 before Povetkin withdrew with a training camp injury. They were once again scheduled to fight, last month, but Klitschko replaced Povetkin with Samuel Peter due to difficulties in finalizing the deal with the unbeaten Russian.