IBF number-one contender, Vyacheslav Glazkov and his team led by promoters Main Events have called for a purse for a mandatory title shot with new champion Tyson Fury, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com
Fury was ordered by the IBF on Monday to next face Vyacheslav “Czar” Glazkov. The camps were given 30 days to make a deal, or a purse bid would be ordered. However, on Tuesday, Main Events promoter Kathy Duva, who represents Glazkov, informed the IBF they were unwilling to participate in negotiations with Fury promoter Mick Hennessy and requested an immediate purse bid, which is allowable under IBF rules, although the fight is unlikely to happen.
The IBF sent a letter to all its registered promoters announcing a purse bid to take place at noon ET Dec. 11 at IBF headquarters in Springfield, New Jersey. The promoter who puts forth the biggest bid will win promotional rights to the bout. The minimum bid is $200,000, but the bout would almost certainly go for millions more.
Duva said though she asked for an immediate purse bid on Fury-Glazkov, she and Hennessy are talking about the fight.
“We got on the phone [Tuesday], and we had a pleasant conversation, and we’ll have another one [Wednesday],” Duva told ESPN.com.
Duva asked for the purse bid immediately to secure her fighter’s position. Had she not, Fury could have asked the IBF for an exception to fight an optional defense before the mandatory bout.
“But once we asked for the immediate purse bid, it is no longer possible [under IBF rules] for the Fury people to ask for a special exception, so that was a tactical move,” Duva said. “I am protecting my fighter’s position.”
She said she is still negotiating the fight with Wilder. Whatever happens, Glazkov will get a shot, be it against the recognized champion Fury, titleholder Wilder or a vacant title bout against Martin.
“We’re still gathering information on everything, but we’ll come to a decision quickly on what we want to do,” Duva said. “I need to speak to my fighter and his manager [Egis Klimas] before anything is decided.”
