FORMER European champion Kevin Lele Sadjo has emerged as the mandatory challenger for Callum Simpson, his successor, despite accepting an IBF elimination bout last month.
The super-middleweight contender relinquished his EBU title earlier this year, allowing Simpson, 18-0 (13 KOs), to claim the vacant blue and gold belt with a tenth-round stoppage victory over Ivan Zucco.
His stunning finish arrived at Oakwell Stadium – the home of Barnsley Football Club – earlier this month, when the 28-year-old twice climbed off the canvas before halting proceedings in destructive fashion.
Since then, the immediate future of Simpson’s career has remained unclear, yet an update to the IBF rankings, meanwhile, saw him climb up to fifth place last week.
Sadjo, on the other hand, has dropped down eight spots to 11th place, perhaps putting his elimination contest against Oleys Iglesias in jeopardy.
The pair looked likely to square off for the IBF mandatory position later this year, with the sanctioning body confirming towards the end of last month that both fighters had accepted the matchup.
But oddly enough, Kevin Maree, the manager of Simpson, has informed Boxing News that Sadjo is now the EBU mandatory challenger at 168lbs.
And while it says on the EBU website that both parties are in negotiations, Maree has also clarified that talks for a potential clash between Simpson and Sadjo are yet to take place.
In any case, though, the Barnsley man is due a voluntary defence of his title which, when he returns from his holiday in Las Vegas, is likely to be discussed in greater detail.
As for a possible elimination bout between Iglesias and Sadjo, Boxing News has contacted the IBF for a comment on the situation.
