Top Rank will promoted the IBF Light Heavyweight title fight between Artur Bterbiev and Meng Fanlong after Longjoy Sports defaulted on their winning bid, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.
Top Rank vice president Carl Moretti told ESPN that the plan is for the fight to headline an ESPN-televised card on March 28 in Quebec City.
“Longjoy Sports submitted 10% of the bid amount at the time of the Purse Bid in the amount of $190,000.00,” Peoples wrote in the letter, a copy of which was obtained by ESPN. “Longjoy Sports was required to deliver payment representing an additional $190,000.00 of the total bid within 5 business days following the bid or no later than January 6, 2020. Longjoy Sports failed to deliver payment representing an additional $190,000.00 of the total bid within 5 business days following the bid or no later than January 6, 2020.
“IBF Rule 10.D states in part: ‘Failure to provide said funds will automatically void the original bid and permit the President to recognize the next highest bidder.’ The IBF recognizes Top Rank Boxing as the next highest bidder pursuant to this rule.”
“We look forward to putting on the fight,” Moretti told ESPN. “We are not totally shocked that it ended up back in our lap given various circumstances. We’re happy Artur will be able to defend both of his titles against Meng and further prove that he is the best light heavyweight in the world and should be considered as a top pound-for-pound fighter.”
