Bakhram Murtazaliev vs. Erickson Lubin: Defense of IBF title to works for Showdown fall

The promoter of the Middleweight champion of the IBF, Bakhram Murtazaliev, is negotiating a fight against his obligatory challenger Erickson Lubin by the end of this year.

Lance pugmire report That Murtazaliev initially intended to get an exception to delay the defense of title Lubin (27-2, 19 kos) to face Josh Kelly, but it was not possible. It is better for the fans that the struggle does not happen, as there would be not much interest in a clash between Murtazaliev and Kelly. It would be perceived as a mismatch in favor of Bakhram.

Lubin’s title search

Lubin, 29, has been pushing for the fight against the title of Murtazaliev (23-0, 17 kos) since he left Areal Holmes Jr. May 10. He has been a member of wanting his legitimate title against the IBF champion, and now it seems to happen.

Murtazaliev’s promoter Kathy Duva also wanted to fight against the 154 -pound champion of WBC, Vergil Ortiz Jr. Turki Alshikh, he tried to fight. Ortiz Jr. I didn’t want to take it because of the 10-pound rehydration rule of IBF’s struggle. It would have been a problem for him. Interestingly, Vergil Jr. moved to 154 in 2024. It is not as if fighting the mid -junior weight division for years. It has just arrived a year ago.

Lubin has won his last three fights since Sebastian Fundora was stopped in the ninth round in 2022. This struggle was a war with Erickson on Round 3, Foundora struck the canvas in seventh place, and the referee stopped the contest after the ninth round at the request of Lubin’s coach.

Erickson suffered a bad swelling of the face and was too hit to be allowed to continue. Lubin’s other defeat came against Jermell Charlo when he was eliminated in the first round on October 14, 2017.

Bakhram seemed to be a beast in his last struggle, and he eliminated the former 154 -pound Tizyu Wbo champion in the third round on October 19, 2024. Murtazaliev left Tszyu three times in the second round and once in the third.