THE IBF final eliminator between unbeaten super-middleweight contenders Christian Mbilli and Kevin Lele Sadjo has reportedly been scuppered.
It was revealed at the IBF’s purse bid hearing last month that Sadjo’s promoter, Y12 Boxing, had won the right to stage their all-French showdown.
After outbidding Eye of the Tiger Management (EOTTM) by a margin of $112,000, the French promotional outfit was set to deliver the eagerly anticipated clash on May 8.
But now, it would appear that EOTTM president Camille Estephan is looking to explore alternative options for Mbilli, 28-0 (23 KOs).
“We have suffered an injustice and we do not accept it,” Estephan told streaming service Punching Grace.
“We have other avenues [that are] just as interesting for Christian, who is a number one contender for the WBC and the WBA.”
The ‘injustice’ that Estephan refers to emerged at the IBF purse bid, where he was under the impression that Y12 Boxing could not exceed his bid by more than a hundred thousand dollars.
But while the IBF initially insisted that the fight had to take place before April 30, it has been reported by Punching Grace that the sanctioning body granted an extension until May 8 to Sadjo’s promoter.
As a result, Y12 Boxing’s inflated bid of $878,000 was seemingly accepted, leaving Estephan feeling aggrieved by the whole situation.
The promoter, however, has told Punching Grace that he now plans to stage Mbilli’s next outing at the Videotron Centre in Quebec, Canada.
Meanwhile, with Sadjo, 24-0 (21 KOs), no longer having a confirmed opponent, the mandatory position for William Scull’s red and gold strap remains up in the air.
In any case, IBF super-middleweight champion Scull is gearing up to lock horns with pound-for-pound star Canelo Alvarez on May 3.
Their undisputed dustup will take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with Canelo putting his WBC, WBA and WBO titles on the line.
