Stevenson was never in the IBF rankings as Hopkins had the title, Dudechenko worked his way up and earned his position. So he logically is the next in line. Is Stevenson even ranked by the IBF now? NO!!! Sure he is the lineal champion but he never showed intrest in becoming undisputed with the IBF before and that is fine but he has no leg to stand on to jump over fighters who are ranked by the IBF
Stevenson was never in the IBF rankings as Hopkins had the title, Dudechenko worked his way up and earned his position. So he logically is the next in line. Is Stevenson even ranked by the IBF now? NO!!! Sure he is the lineal champion but he never showed intrest in becoming undisputed with the IBF before and that is fine but he has no leg to stand on to jump over fighters who are ranked by the IBF
cant say im informed on this situation but no, he shouldnt. if someone has been promised the next shot at BHop they should get it even if it means stopping a better fight. after that fight stevenson should be in the same position where nobody can get in the way of him boxing the winner.
edit: just took a look at the ibf 175lb rankings and my god they are retarded. absolutely horrible. not making any point just saying, absolutely atrocious.
Dudechenko is the Keith Thurman of the light heavyweight division. Nobody wants any parts of him. He's the mandatory and still can't get his title shot.
Its a shame this fight won't happen. The fans want a Hopkins/Dudechenko PPV fight but once again, boxing politics mess it up. First it was Stevenson/Kovalev. Now its Hopkins/Dudechenko.
Dudechenko should fight Kovalev instead in a battle of the 2 most feared fighters in the division.