On December 13, 2024, the IBF ordered Erickson Lubin (ranked #3 by the IBF) and Ardreal Holmes Jr. (ranked #8 by the IBF) to begin negotiations for a junior middleweight elimination bout for the #1 ranking. Negotiations were to be concluded on or before December 28th. Because an agreement was not be made by that deadline, the IBF has now ordered a purse bid that is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, January 28th. Lubin is 26-2 and had an excellent win over previously undefeated Jesus Ramos Jr. in September 2023, but he has been inactive since then. Holmes is 17-0 and has had six straight quality wins since 2022. The reigning IBF champion in this weight class Bakhram Murtazaliev.