The IBF has ordered a purse bid in order to get a deal for Erickson Lubin-Ardreal Holmes Jnr done.

Last month, as reported by BoxingScene, the IBF had instructed their junior middleweight No. 3, Lubin, to face No. 8, Holmes, to determine a new No. 1 for champion Bakhram Murtazaliev to fight.

The IBF, in a letter sent out today, has announced that purse bids will take place on Tuesday, January 28 at noon, and bids must be submitted by 11.45am.

Champion Murtazaliev is 23-0 (17 KOs) and coming off a hugely-impressive third-round stoppage of Tim Tszyu.

Florida southpaw Lubin is 26-2 (18 KOs) and won a close and controversial decision over Jesus Ramos in September 2023 but has not boxed since, while fellow southpaw Holmes, 17-0 (6 KOs), who fights out of Flint, Michigan, had three outings in 2024, stopping Marlon Harrington and then winning two 10 rounders, over Hugo Noriega and Edwine Humaine Junior.