Issues are getting a bit byzantine within the tremendous light-weight division.
Earlier this month, Mike Coppinger introduced phrase that IBF champion Subriel Matias would defend his title in opposition to Sergey Lipinets in August. Just a few days later, he reported that the struggle would as an alternative happen “later this yr.” Now, Worldwide Boxing Information reveals and Jake Donovan confirms that the IBF have ordered Matias to face Shohjahon Ergashev.
If there was a deal in place for Matias-Lipinets, that may presumably be allowed to proceed, in any other case Matias (19-1, 19 KO) might want to both change course or pay Ergashev (23-0, 20 KO) to step apart.
Uzbekistan’s Ergashev has had what may charitably be known as a start-and-stop profession. He bought two strong wins by edging out Mykal Fox in 2019 and smoking Adrian Estrella in 92 seconds 11 months later, however successfully vanished off the face of the Earth afterwards. At 31 years outdated, now’s the time to step on the fuel.
Like Lipinets, he ought to make for an absolute slugfest with Matias, who has a chance to determine himself as The Man at 140 after Teofimo Lopez’s retirement and Regis Prograis’ ungainly efficiency in opposition to Danielito Zorrilla. We’ll see how this performs out.