Why Did Top Rank Request Abdukakhorov-Lipinets? Unify With Crawford?

[paulf]

Article I read said TR and TGP requested the fight for the interim title, so the IBF ordered it. But Abdukakhorov was already the mandatory to Spence's belt.

What's Uncle Bob up to here? Are they planning on making Crawford-Abdukakhorov if he gets the interim strap? I don't see what that would accomplish outside of giving Crawford a fake title, as it's unlikely they'd force the Spence fight if Crawford has the WBO title. Just seems like an odd play, when they could do him like they did Pulev and fight him against nobodies while he waits for his shot.

Article said Spence has to defend IBF belt within 90 days of defending his WBC belt. So I'm guessing the idea is that Spence will vacate the IBF belt and Crawford will fight Abdukakhorov for it to unify this winter?

Speculate away.

After Abdukakhorov, Spence's IBF mandatory challenger, and former world titlist Lipinets, ranked No. 3 in the sanctioning body, notified the IBF in writing that they would be willing to participate in the interim title bout, they were ordered to meet for the interim belt.

https://www.espn.com/boxing/story/_/id/28483453/ibf-orders-kudratillo-abdukakhorov-sergei-lipinets-fight-interim-title

[El_Mero]

If what youre stating is true, then good for Crawford imo. Gets him closer to a Spence fight. IF Crawford wins and Spence refuses to fight him, then Crawford kills 2 birds with one stone (Shows the world that Spence truly doesnt want to fight him AND he becomes a multi belt holder at '47)

[Mister Wolf]

Article I read said TR and TGP requested the fight for the interim title, so the IBF ordered it. But Abdukakhorov was already the mandatory to Spence's belt.

What's Uncle Bob up to here? Are they planning on making Crawford-Abdukakhorov if he gets the interim strap? I don't see what that would accomplish outside of giving Crawford a fake title, as it's unlikely they'd force the Spence fight if Crawford has the WBO title. Just seems like an odd play, when they could do him like they did Pulev and fight him against nobodies while he waits for his shot.

Article said Spence has to defend IBF belt within 90 days of defending his WBC belt. So I'm guessing the idea is that Spence will vacate the IBF belt and Crawford will fight Abdukakhorov for it to unify this winter?

Speculate away.

Its simple logic. Now the Top Rank fighter just has to beat Lipinets to earn the belt instead of beating Spence. If Spence doesn't fight he gets stripped and they get made the full champ.