Kenichi Ogawa vs. Azinga Fuzile Purse Bid Scheduled For IBF Title Eliminator
The IBF is moving forward with a purse bid to help make a title eliminator for the organization’s super featherweight world title.
According to Dan Rafael of ESPN, a purse bid for a fight between Kenichi Ogawa and Azinga Fuzile has been scheduled for May 27 at the Wynn Palace in Macau, China. Although a purse bid date has been set, both sides can still negotiate a deal right up until 15 minutes before the bids are unsealed.
If and when the title eliminator is made, the winner would become the mandatory challenger to Tevin Farmer’s 130-pound IBF world title. Farmer, who has made three successful title defenses since winning the belt back in August 2018, currently does not have a fight lined up for him next, but could be facing Guillaume Frenois later this year.
Ogawa does have some history with Farmer as the two fighters previously fought for the belt back in 2017. Ogawa won a controversial decision against Farmer, but the fight result was changed to a no contest after Ogawa tested positive for the banned substance androstanediol. Ogawa was then suspended for a year and returned to action on February 2 when he won a 10-round decision against Roldan Aldea. The 31-year-old Ogawa is currently ranked No. 4 by the IBF.
Fuzile, ranked No. 5 by the IBF at super featherweight, has won all 14 of his pro bouts since making his debut back in 2014. Fuzile last fought on April 7 when he defeated Romulo Koasicha by unanimous decision to retain his IBF Intercontinental title.
