Last month, Richardson Hitchins made the decision to vacate the IBF super-lightweight world title. Now, after a month of waiting, the IBF prepares to crown a new 140lb champion.
Hitchins decisioned Liam Paro to get his hands on the IBF strap back in December 2024 but made just one defence of the belt last year, knocking out former unified lightweight champion George Kambosos Jr in a dominant display.
However, last month, Hitchins announced that he would be relinquishing the belt ahead of a move to both the welterweight division and Zuffa Boxing.
Today, at the IBF’s 41st Annual Convention, in Vietnam, it was unveiled that the number one contender and Hitchins’ former mandatory challenger, Lindolfo Delgado (24-0, 16 KOs), will take on Canadian-Russian Arthur Biyarslanov (21-0, 17 KOs) in an intriguing vacant title bout between two undefeated bogeymen.
Mexico’s Delgado defeated Gabriel Gollaz Venezuela via split-decision last time in November, but was ordered for a challenge for Hitchins’ title in February.
Meanwhile, Biyarslanov, known as ‘The Wolf’, claimed the NABF super-lightweight title back in June 2024, and the 31-year-old has kept active by making five defences of the belt since, including triumphs over former world champions Mohamed Mimoune and Sergey Lipinets.
Biyarslanov sits at #5 in the IBF rankings, but it is understood that both Oscar Duarte (#3) and Keyshawn Davis (#4) turned the title opportunity down, with both men having fought and won earlier this month.
