Does Wald have to fight someone in the IBF's Top 15?

[KobeIsGod]

Don't all voluntary defenses by a champ have to come against one of the top 15 ranked contenders by that organization? Otherwise would it not be a sanctioned title fight?!?

Gee...slim pickings. So of the IBF's top 15, the only ones even remotely interesting are bolded. But Sergei is AWOL. Holyfield and Rahman are shot. Povetkin and Valuev are interesting possibilities. Povetkin would be great but would his people throw him in there with Wlad? Valuev would just be a freakshow but I think they could sell it at MSG and would Valuev turn down a title shot and big payday?

1 NOT RATED
2 NOT RATED
3 Lamon Brewster
4 Calvin Brock
5 Chris Byrd
6 Nicolay Valuev
7 Vladimir Virchis
8 Hasim Rahman
9 Ray Austin
10 Eddie Chambers
11 Sergei Lyakhovich
12 Evander Holyfield
13 Alexander Povetkin
14 Oleg Platov
15 Shane Cameron

[Asterion]

Vladimir Virchis would be a good option. There were also some rumours of Wlad fighting Corrie Sanders.

[KobeIsGod]

Can he even fight Sanders since he is not in the top 15?

[NBT]

Briggs isn't in the Top 15 so he can't fight him anyway in a titlebout. Now people can start claiming he ducked The Cannon. :yep

[KobeIsGod]

Vladimir Virchis would be a good option. There were also some rumours of Wlad fighting Corrie Sanders.

Probably one of the more interesting but HBO wouldn't buy it, especially if it's stateside. Got to be a known American or someone like Valuev with a freakish appeal. As for Corrie, he not even ranked in the top 15 by the IBF or IBO, so wouldn't be a 10 round non-title fight? That's my original question.

[Kostya Zoo]

There just aren't many options for him right now. Any fighter that's a real threat already has another fight scheduled. Everyone else is old or coming off a loss. Povetkin shouldn't be an option, it's too soon he needs another good win.

So I say go for Sanders. Avenge a loss and stay active.

[H .]

Wlad should battle Valuev in Chicago. :yep

[Heavyrighthand]

Can he even fight Sanders since he is not in the top 15?

The possible Sanders rematch must be an allowed titlefight, or they would not have been entertaining the idea at a recent press conference. If Sanders are not an option, they would not have even speculated on fighting him.

So that said, I doubt his voluntary has to be a top 15 fighter, but I may be wrong.

[unitas]

There just aren't many options for him right now. Any fighter that's a real threat already has another fight scheduled. Everyone else is old or coming off a loss. Povetkin shouldn't be an option, it's too soon he needs another good win.

So I say go for Sanders. Avenge a loss and stay active.

:patsch

[NBT]

So that said, I doubt his voluntary has to be a top 15 fighter, but I may be wrong.
It has to be a Top 15 fighter.

"2. Optional Defenses
In the interim periods, the Heavyweight Champion
may enter into any contest with any heavyweight
contender rated in the top fifteen (15) boxers in his
weight class as set forth in the ratings of the
IBF/USBA and subject to the approval of the
Championships Chairman and the President."

But the rankings may change, if the IBF likes the fight they can put Sanders in the Top 15 next month without any reason.

[unitas]

how about wlad vs valuev???

valuev has no title so its easier to do. and it would be a super fight in germany.........it would draw highest numbers ever IMO.

and it would be interesting. wlad has the skills and power........valuev the size and chin.
wlad would likely outpoint him, but what if wlads fades again down the strech??

wlad would be favoured, but valuev has a chance.

[KobeIsGod]

It has to be Top 15 fighter.

"2. Optional Defenses
In the interim periods, the Heavyweight Champion
may enter into any contest with any heavyweight
contender rated in the top fifteen (15) boxers in his
weight class as set forth in the ratings of the
IBF/USBA and subject to the approval of the
Championships Chairman and the President."

But the rankings may change, if the IBF likes the fight they can put Sanders in the Top 15 next month without any reason.

Thanks for the textbook response. That's what I thought too. These organizations are so corrupt though they'll probably move the biggest cashcow into the rankings anyway.

[kg0208]

Thanks for the textbook response. That's what I thought too. These organizations are so corrupt though they'll probably move the biggest cashcow into the rankings anyway.

But does this exclude him from fighting other champions? They aren't in the top 15 obviously.

[Heavyrighthand]

It has to be a Top 15 fighter.

"2. Optional Defenses
In the interim periods, the Heavyweight Champion
may enter into any contest with any heavyweight
contender rated in the top fifteen (15) boxers in his
weight class as set forth in the ratings of the
IBF/USBA and subject to the approval of the
Championships Chairman and the President."

But the rankings may change, if the IBF likes the fight they can put Sanders in the Top 15 next month without any reason.

Thanks for looking up the particulars.

But as you said, they can put him in if they like the fight, so in other words, his chioce don't really have to be a top 15 fighter, cause if the org suits like the fight with someone out of the top 15, they can merely pencil him in, and wala, top 15 opponent. :lol:

[KobeIsGod]

But does this exclude him from fighting other champions? They aren't in the top 15 obviously.

You would think there would be an exception in that case or the compensation for the organization is just too sweet to pass up.

[Shpion]

Thanks for looking up the particulars.

But as you said, they can put him in if they like the fight, so in other words, his chioce don't really have to be a top 15 fighter, cause if the org suits like the fight with someone out of the top 15, they can merely pencil him in, and wala, top 15 opponent. :lol:

I heard Sanders won an amatuer golf tournament last weekend, which definetly improves his credentials with IBF.

[NBT]

wlad would likely outpoint him, but what if wlads fades again down the strech??
Why should he? Valuev isn't a guy that would put pressure on Wlad and that's what you need to do to get through to him. Valuev can't fight like that, with his huge body he has to conserve energy. Should be easy coasting to victory for Wlad with a potential knockout.

But does this exclude him from fighting other champions? They aren't in the top 15 obviously.
No, there are extra rules for unification bouts.

"2. WBA, WBC and WBO Champions
For the purpose of unification of titles, the
Champions of the World Boxing Association (“WBA”),
the World Boxing Council (“WBC”), and the World Boxing
Organization (“WBO”) may be designated as “elite
contenders” and may be permitted to fight for
the unified title. Any unification bout, if approved by
the Championships Committee, will take priority over the
mandatory. Despite the general prohibition in Rules 5
A.2.(b); B.2.; and D.1.(a) above, the Champion may box a
WBC, WBA or WBO champion within sixty (60) days of the
mandatory due date."