Abdukahorov, Lipinets in works for IBF Interim

Kudratillo Abdukakhorov and Sergey Lipinets are in the works of getting one step closer to the International Boxing Federation (IBF) crown, currently held by Errol Spence Jr.

Jake Donovan of Boxingscene.com reported Thursday night the IBF is in the process of ordering an interim title fight, with the winner to land as a challenger in waiting for unified welterweight titlist Errol Spence Jr. A letter has been sent to representatives for Abdukakhorov and Lipinets, both of whom will have five (5) days accept the sanctioning body’s offer to challenge for the interim title.

Per the report from Boxingscene, both sides are interested in such a fight. Once they both officially accept the offer, a 30-day negotiation period will be ordered by the IBF for the two sides to come to terms.

My @boxingscene story on offer sent to Kudratillo Abdukakhorov and Sergey Lipinets to fight for IBF interim welterweight title:https://t.co/N8osNWPYut

— Jake Donován (@JakeNDaBox) January 9, 2020

The IBF interim title status has been made for the time being while current champion Spence, is recovering from a single-car accident in Dallas where he rolled his car over. Spence appeared in December to state that he is aiming to return in the ring by the spring. With that return, Spence has a matchup with WBC mandatory challenger Danny Garcia first, then this winner of this proposed matchup.

Abdukakhorov (17-0, 9 KOs) was last in action back in October in Philadephia, where he outboxed a one-armed Luis Collazo. Abdukakhorov in that ten-round bout didn’t set the world on fire in that contest but has been the long-time mandatory challenger for Spence’s title. Per the report, he was prepared to take another voluntary fight while awaiting word on Spence’s status to return, but plans to challenge for an interim or even full version of the title he’s been waiting on came about.

Lipinets (16-1, 12KOs) is the number two challenger at the IBF welterweight. He is coming off a year where the former titleholder at 140, retired former two-division title claimant Lamont Peterson in their brawl last March and quick work of late-replacement Jayar Inson in two rounds last July.

This date was originally slated for this to take place on February 22nd of the Wilder-Fury 2 card but with this being ordered by the IBF today, it will be pushed back for a later date.