Devon Alexander may vacate IBF title before Timothy Bradley can get a shot at it
WBO junior welterweight champion Timothy Bradley wants Devon Alexander’s IBF belt. But “Alexander the Great” may not have it by the time they agree to fight terms.
Recent developments reported by Rick Reeno of boxingscene.com indicate that Alexander may drop his IBF title in light of the IBF proceeding with a purse bid and fight deadline with challenger Kizer Mabuza.
Alexander, promoted by Don King, is the current WBC and IBF junior welterweight champion. Originally a mandated bout with Mabuza for the IBF title was postponed after King notified the sanctioning body Alexander had reached an agreement to fight Timothy
Bradley on January 29. However, the IBF is claiming promoter Gary Shaw did not send them a formal copy of the agreement and therefore went through with the purse bid yesterday between Alexander and Mabuza.
An agreement between Bradley and Alexander was recently jeopardized after it was revealed that Bradley and Shaw had a falling out over contractual terms in the future. Because the January 29 date had been jeopardized, it makes sense that Shaw hasn't confirm
the date with the IBF.
Branco Milenkovic, who promotes Mabuza, was the only bidder for the Alexander fight (King’s side didn’t acknowledge the bidding). He bid $101,500, and paid the 20 per cent deposit ($20, 300). As per IBF regulations, the purse split will be 75-25 Alexander.
The IBF has decreed that the bout with Mabuza must take place no later than December 28, 2010.
Because it is fairly unlikely Alexander will agree to terms for a Mabuza in light of his prearranged date with Bradley, he may be forced to vacate his IBF title should he not comply.
Vacating the title would take some of the sugar out of the pie for Bradley-Alexander, since the bout would thereby be for the WBC and WBO titles as oppose to IBF, WBC and WBO titles.
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