Phil D. Jay
WBN Editor
WBN Editor
Welterweight fight likely for purse bids
With an agreement unlikely between IBF welterweight champion
Devon Alexander and his mandatory challenger Kell Brook, the fight is almost
certain to go to purse bids by the end of November.
As American Alexander is nailed on to want a home defence of
the title he claimed in New York on October 20, a contest with Brook looks to
have hit a dead end as his promoter Eddie Hearn reiterates his stance to stage the bout in
the UK.
WBN have now been in touch with the IBF, who have confirmed
that the champion has no other option but to come to an amicable outcome with
Brook or face losing his title in the next four and a half months.
“They (Team Alexander) have not been given a deadline. If things go as planned the two should fight within about 135 days,”
Lindsey Tucker, the IBF Championships Chairman told World Boxing News.
“The fight would then go to bids if the parties cannot come
to an agreement as Brook is his mandatory and Alexander can’t fight an
optional.”
Brook, 26, is hoping to stage his first world title
challenge in his hometown of Sheffield, England, whilst 25 year-old Alexander
clarified his position last week when stating that he plans to look for bigger
fights than the Briton.
It may not necessarily mean that ‘The Great’ will relinquish
his title though as Alexander knows that he would have a better bargaining tool for a
shot at the likes of Pacquiao and Mayweather if he retains possession of his
IBF belt.
Whether he does see his future with the title may depend
entirely on if he gains home advantage for any fight with Brook. On the other hand, if Hearn can pick up the rights to stage the contest next year, that maybe the only way the St. Louis fighter would give up his newly-acquired
championship.