Why was Spence put on the IBF route?

[TheCleaner]

If Khan fights pac, and wins, that'd be another haymon ww with a belt

[Ray*]

It's difficult to project things that way, I personally don't think there was any sort of calculated move.

[285Kid]

Well some people here are going to tell you that Spence Jr and Beterbiev when the IBF way because the WBC has this VADA testing thing..

[Rip Chudd]

Because they enforce their rules I'd imagine.

This^^^^

With those other belts the organizations have shown that they don't follow their rules, make up rules when they want, and genuinely don't really care too much about mandos unless it's going to be lucrative.

The IBF is the only org that seems to follow their rules, so going after that strap and being the mandatory guaranteed Spence a shot at the belt, whether it was going to be to fight the actual champion or for a vacant strap

[deathofaclown]

Maybe they felt it was the easiest route to a mandatory shot and that IBF do always enforce their mandatories more than the other belt organisations, although that sometimes makes for bad fights. My guess is they felt this was the best way to get Spence a title shot.

Plus when he started the IBF route, nobody can predict the future and know if Brook would still be champion or not. So i think it was mostly based on which route was best to get the title shot, not who was the champion because belts are vacated and changing hands all the time anyway. It just so happens Brook still has the belt..

[Kigali]

lol becuase haymon didnt want to put him in the WBO path with pac, WBA with thurman or WBC with garcia knowing that kell prob kills himself making 147 which will be a worse cut since he already fought at 160. kell is still going to bonk the hell out him.

Pac doesn't fight WW's...he fights guys moving up from 135 or 140

[mlac]

Something I've been wondering is why Haymon decided to put Spence on the IBF route when they clearly think Spence could be a star and Brook is (in my opinion) slightly tougher than Garcia/ Thurman.

Plus, if Spence became mandatory for Garcia/ Thurman and then lost, Haymon would control the winning fighter. However, if Brook beats Spence, that won't happen.

I know it doesn't really matter, I'm just happy the fight got made, but I'm slightly curious about this.

Any thoughts?

Im guessing you are implying they went the IBF route because They didnt want Spence to sign up for VADA?

[Motorcity Cobra]

Keith was already WBA. Garcia was WBC from his 140 days and moved up and got his shot. The IBF was the smart route to go. Number one because they actually enforce their mando's. You'll wait forever waiting on the WBO and WBA to enforce a mando. I wish Brook would've fought Vargas and got that WBO out of Arum's hand. smh

[The Big Dunn]

Definitely to control the WW division. He had Thurman in the WBA. Garcia in the WBC and Spence in the IBF. I think he ceded the wbo to Arum though lol

Agree with this. Besides the WBO, IBO, etc etc are bogus organizations anyway IMO.