By Rick Reeno
A source close to the discussions has informed BoxingScene.com that a bout between undefeated Shamone Alvarez (19-0, 11KOs) and Joshua Clottey (32-2, 19KOs) is in discussions.
The bout could very well become an IBF eliminator. Clottey is ranked at 6, while Alvarez is ranked at number 10. The number 1 ranking is vacant, and Andre Berto is sitting as the number 2 ranked contender to Kermit Cintron's title.
There was some talk that the fight would land on the undercard to Kelly Pavlik's tentative return date of January 26 at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. Pavlik is slated to defend his WBC/WBO middleweight titles against John Duddy in the main event. The potential Pavlik-Duddy bout is resting on the shoulders of former champ Jermain Taylor, who has until October 29 to exercise a rematch clause to face Pavlik at a catchweight of 166-pounds.
But, a source within Top Rank informed BoxingScene that an Alvarez-Clottey bout would likely have it's own date, possibly on a Versus card.
