By Yuri Tarantin
A few days ago, the chairman of the International Boxing Federation (IBF), Lindsey Tucker, said that the CEO of Mayweather Promotions, Leonard Ellerbe, notified them that the match between world champion IBF lightweight champion Mickey Bey and mandatory challenger Denis Shafikov had fallen apart. Top Rank also confirmed the information to the IBF.
In late March, the parties managed to avoid a purse bid as they came to an agreement for April 30th in Las Vegas. But now the IBF has been forced to schedule a purse bid for April 14th.
Oleg Bogdanov, the manager of Shafikov, explained the situation:
"Bey really understands that this will be his last fight as the champion and he just wants more money. He asked for some astronomical sum and now he is forced to go to a purse bid. Denis agreed to his offered fee, which was presented to him immediately.
"Denis is calm and focused on training camp. We continue to prepare for the date of April 30 and on April 14 everything will become clear at the purse bid. Bey is only a champion due to a misunderstanding, because the judges gave him a gift over Vazquez in the most unspectacular fight of the century, and still he dares to ask for a lot of money."
Yuri Tarantin covers boxing for Allboxing.ru
