IBF Light Heavyweight Title Eliminator Called Off

The Artur Beterbiev vs. Enrico Koelling fight, which as was supposed to be a title eliminator for one of Andre Ward’s light heavyweight titles, has been called off.

According to promoter Yvon Michel, Beterbiev has encountered visa issues which prevented the boxer from competing in New York on July 29.

“The fight was placed on the July 29 event in New York, but Beterbiev’s visa entry for USA was denied,” Michel told ESPN. “We have requested revision, and it was still denied. We then decided to contact the IBF and canceled the fight. Most likely, the IBF will reschedule the purse bid.”

There is another potential reason that seems to contradict Michel’s claims. Beterbiev’s attorney, Me Karim Renno, said the reason the fight with Koelling is off has nothing to do with Beterbiev’s visa issues. According to Renno, the real reason the fight was called off was because of an impending lawsuit filed against Michel due to contract disputes.

The fight was announced back in late May and it was supposed to be one of the bigger fights on the Adrien Broner vs. Mikey Garcia undercard at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Since that fight was called off, another title eliminator was announced for the card: McJoe Arroyo vs. Rau’shee Warren in an IBF super flyweight title eliminator.

The IBF has now ordered a purse bid to be held on July 25.