Puerto Rican puncher Subriel Matias (19-1, 19 KOs) won the vacant IBF super lightweight championship belt over the weekend – in an expectedly uncompromising fight, he forced Argentine Jeremias Ponce (30-1, 20 KOs) to capitulate.
The IBF are planning to determine a mandatory challenger for their new champion. An offer to take part in the final eliminator was sent to the ex-challenger Briton Jack Catterall (26-1, 13 KOs) and the obstinate prospect from Uzbekistan Shokhzhakhon Ergashev (23-0, 20 KOs) – they occupy the 3rd and 4th positions in the top, respectively. -15 from IBF. Ergashev has already given the go-ahead, but Catterall is still thinking.
With a high degree of probability, the Briton will refuse the offer. Especially if he really has a chance to go directly to the fight for the WBC title with the American Regis Prograis.
And if so, then the IBF could have serious problems finding the next available challenger in the rankings: #5 Australian Liam Paro is injured, #6 and #7 Americans Teofimo Lopez and Jose Ramirez are unavailable. Remain #8 and #9 – Australian Steve Spark and Andy Hiraoka from Japan.
Ergashev ended his career in January last year, but a week later, his return to boxing was announced in the United States.
